London Launches a Citywide Hunt for the Rare Hairy Snail

Conchologists—scientists who study living and fossil mollusk shells—have launched an expedition to find the rare hairy snail. They’re joined by more than 100 amateur researchers and local residents. The search is being coordinated by Citizen Zoo and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
The German hairy snail, about the size of a fingernail (Pseudotrichia rubiginosa), used to appear in fragmented habitats, primarily along the banks of the Thames. Now the mollusk is rapidly disappearing, The Guardian reports.
It was first discovered in the UK in 1982. But fossilized remains show it has lived here since at least the Neolithic period, and possibly since the last Ice Age. Back then, the Thames was still connected to the Rhine—the longest river in Germany.

Experts think the fine hairs on the snail’s shell help it retain moisture and cling to the plants it feeds on, as well as to slippery coastal surfaces.
“I was over the moon when I found my first German snail. I never thought I would be so thrilled. They are truly beautiful creatures if you take a close look, and they have a very interesting appearance with their short, straight hairs,” said Elliot Newton, director of wildlife restoration at Citizen Zoo.
“This charming little snail has called riverbanks and wetlands home for thousands of years, but unfortunately it has become quite rare in the UK, and its range may now be limited to just a few locations,” said Joe Pecorelli, freshwater conservation program manager at ZSL.
The large research team eventually found the snail near Kew, in Richmond upon Thames, close to Isleworth Island and east of Cody Dock.
The expedition will help scientists determine how habitat restoration, pollution control, and relocating snails between sites could boost the species’ numbers. The German hairy snail is a priority in London’s biodiversity action plan and is considered endangered in other European countries, including Germany.
“The German hairy snail sparks the imagination and shows people the fascinating, diverse fauna of London. The mollusk reminds us of the amazing natural world right around us,” said Newton.