How do two hermaphroditic banana slugs reproduce in a mating encounter?

• A. Two hermaphroditic slugs mate, exchanging sperm.
• B. Two slugs mate and lay eggs without exchanging sperm.
• C. Two hermaphroditic slugs mate, exchanging sperm, and then lay eggs in moist soil or leaf litter.
• D. They reproduce by budding.

Answer: (C)

Banana slugs are simultaneous hermaphrodites, so during mating two individuals pair up and exchange sperm. This cross-fertilizes each slug’s eggs, giving both a chance to lay fertilized eggs. After copulation, each slug lays eggs in a moist, protected environment—typically moist soil or leaf litter—where the eggs stay damp and can hatch. This combination of exchanging sperm and then depositing fertilized eggs in a moist habitat is why that description fits best. They don’t reproduce by budding, and laying eggs without exchanging sperm wouldn’t result in fertilized offspring.