The expedition to find the rare hairy snail has been initiated by conchologists—scientists who study both living and extinct mollusk shells. They are joined by over 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), was once found in fragmented habitats, primarily along the banks of the Thames. Now, this mollusk is rapidly disappearing, as reported by The Guardian.
It was first discovered in the UK in 1982. However, fossilized remains indicate that it has lived here since at least the Neolithic period, and possibly even since the last Ice Age. Back then, the Thames was still connected to the Rhine—the longest river in Germany.
It is believed that the fine hairs on the snail’s shell help it regulate moisture and cling to the plants it feeds on, as well as to slippery coastal objects.
“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,” expressed Elliot Newton, the director of wildlife restoration at Citizen Zoo.
Joe Pecorelli, the freshwater conservation program manager at ZSL, added, “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.”
The large research team eventually found the snail near the Kew area, in Richmond upon Thames, close to the Isleworth island and east of the Cody Dock.
The expedition will help scientists determine how habitat restoration, pollution control, and potential snail relocation between sites can contribute to the growth of this species, which is a priority in London’s biodiversity action plan. This species is also considered endangered in other European countries, including Germany.
“The German hairy snail is a species that sparks the imagination and opens people’s eyes to the fascinating and diverse fauna of . The mollusk reminds us of the amazing natural world that exists right around us,” noted Newton.
