New Species of Micro Snails Discovered in China
A species of micro snails, recently discovered in China, was named Angustopila dominikae. This new variety of snails might be the smallest snail ever found and the size of its shell is just 0.03” (0.86 mm) in diameter. Its minuscule dimensions make it fit 10 times in a needle’s eye.
These little snails are members of a family called microgastropods, whose species are all animals smaller than 0.2” (5 mm). Contrary to appearances, this is a huge family and the majority of its species live in tropical regions. Other micro snails found by scientists had a shell of only 1 mm (0.04”) in diameter. Experts have also discovered a species smaller than 0.08” (2 mm) that lives, after all studies, in just one of South Korea’s numerous caves.
The latest, smallest species is one of seven varieties of snails newly discovered in China. Angustopila dominikae was found in the grounds under limestone coves in the region of Guangxi. These extraordinary discoveries are the result of a collaboration between teams of Western and Chinese scientists. They worked together over the course of two years.
This new snail has a mild grayish appearance, with a circular and fragile structure. The scientists assume that it usually spends its time going through the limestone coves, since have found until now only one shell of this unusual species.
Specialists also discovered other new species of micro snails in the Chinese region. Angustopila fabella lives on the same cliff sides as its dominikae relative and it measures only 0.04” (around 1 mm). Its name comes from the Latin term for “little vegetable” referring to its bean-shaped shell.
Another new variety of micro snails, Angustopila subelevata, is only around 0.035” (0.9 mm) in diameter. A fourth one, Angustopila szekeresi, does not get much bigger (0.04” or 1.02 mm). The scientists also found a snail that is a little wider (but still a micro species), Hypselostoma lacrima. This has approximately 0.05” (1.3 mm) in diameter. Another member of the microgastropods family, Hypselostoma socialis, is around the same dimension. However, it has a different configuration of its shell.
Finally, the scientists found Krobylos sinensis, a true Goliath next to its smaller counterparts, with a dimension of 0.1” (2.5 mm). This species spends the majority of the time under rocks and in cracks near the limestone cliff platform.
Experts also revealed private details about the re-discovery of an older species, Angustopila huoyani. The 0.035” (0.9 mm) creature had formerly been found in a cavern at about 300 miles (500 km) away from their current research site.
This study emphasizes the need to discover more underground routes and to learn more about the incredible bio-diversity of China. Scientists said the minuscule dimension of these animals could not be attributed only to evolutionary processes.
For very little bugs, specialists can explain the evolutionary purposes and why they are like that. For snails, the theory is a lot more difficult. The entire family of micro snails is comprised of extremely small creatures living around the world. They all share a common ancestor that lived more than 50 million years ago. Since then, all these animals survived in different regions and in different environments.
It is practically impossible for snails to become even smaller than the species found recently. This is because their tissues and organs cannot be more compact than that. This is because here is a minimum number of tissues needed for a living creature to exist.
Image source: Naturalscienceseducation