Life table estimates for the land snail Cryptaustenia ovata (H. F. Blanford, 1871) occurring in India

The life history features of the land snail Cryptaustenia ovata (H. F. Blanford, 1871) (Stylommatophora: Helicarionidae) were evaluated, highlighting growth and reproduction. Increase in body weight, longevity, age at first reproduction, and fecundity were assessed using multiple individual cohorts in rearing duration. The growth pattern of C. ovata fitted well with the von Bertalanffy growth equation. A maximum life span of 205 days was observed for C. ovata with a mean life expectancy of 58.63 ± 1.99 days. The life expectancy (ex) of 0-day-old snails was 34.58 days, and on the day before death, the life expectancy was 1.3 days. Time to first reproduction varied between 78 and 111 days after hatching, and the oviposition period between 9 and 62 days. A peak oviposition was observed between the 16th and 17th week of the life span. The pooled net reproductive rate (R0), cohort generation time (Tc), intrinsic rate of increase (rm), and finite rate of increase (λ) were estimated as 64.614, 104.176 days, 0.017, and 1.043, respectively. C. ovata exhibited high mortality during the early age of the life history and was characterised by early reproductive maturity and rapid growth rate. Information on the life history traits of C. ovata will help delineate management strategies for its population regulation.