This Valentine's Day we could talk about the birds and the bees. But we think that the snails -- and the spearlike "love darts" they use to impale each other before mating -- are much more interesting.
Starting Friday, San Francisco's California Academy of Sciences will celebrate Valentine's Day with its latest exhibit, Animal Attraction -- exploring the fascinating mating tendencies of animals.
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In a series of 18 aquarium tanks, the exhibit will explore reproduction, from attraction to mating to evolution, using iPads instead of labels, allowing guests to flip through images, videos and loads of information.
Some examples: The Ceratoid Anglerfish who permanently fuse during mating; The Coral Banded Shrimp who fight their mate's potential suitors to the death; And of course, your everyday garden snail who shoots its mate with enormous hormone-laced darts (sometimes impaling the snail entirely, reaching out the other side) that increase the odds of reproduction. And you thought your sex life was interesting.
Check out photos from the upcoming exhibit below, as well as a video teaser. Then stop by the Animal Attraction Nightlife on Thursday night.
