Description

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context

A team of researchers from India and UK recently discovered a species of land snail from the Konkan region of Maharashtra and named it Theobaldius konkanensis.

Habitat and Distribution

Endemic to Northern Western Ghats.

Found at 80 to 240 meters above sea level.

Found in Tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests.

Active during June to September.

Microhabitat includes Leaf litter, damp fallen branches, under forest canopy.

India’s land snail diversity includes 1,138 species from 167 genera and 39 families.

Morphological Features

Feature	Description
Shell Shape	Thick, conoidally depressed, widely umbilicated
Colour	Corneous yellow with brown striations
Surface Texture	Collabrally striated periostracum
Unique Traits	Elevated spire; triangular shaped outline at the shell opening

Behavioural Traits

Diurnal and nocturnal.

Easily found in shaded forested areas during the afternoon.

Mainly hermaphroditic.

Breed during the rainy season.

Reproduction through both self and cross-fertilization.

Lay eggs in leaf litter, soil crevices.

Lifespan: 2 to 7 years.

Ecological Significance

Bioindicator species as they are highly sensitive to environmental changes.

Decomposer, contributes to nutrient cycling.

Found with other ground living land snails.

About Snails

Category	Details
Scientific Classification	Phylum: Mollusca Class: Gastropoda Common Groups: Land snails, sea snails, freshwater snails
Body Structure	Soft bodied, unsegmented Usually protected by a coiled external shell except slugs
Locomotion	Use a muscular foot to glide over surfaces Secrete mucus to aid movement and reduce friction
Respiration	Land snails breathe through a lung like structure Aquatic snails use gills
Reproduction	Most land snails are hermaphroditic that is have both male and female organs Some reproduce by self fertilization, others by cross fertilization
Breeding Season	Primarily during the rainy season
Courtship Behavior	Involves love darts to stimulate reproduction
Egg Laying	Eggs are laid in moist places like soil crevices or leaf litter Hatch in 2 weeks to 1 month
Lifespan	Generally 2 to 7 years
Diet	Herbivorous: feed on leaves, stems, bark, fruits, algae and fungi
Ecological Role	Decomposers as they break down organic material Food source for birds, reptiles, amphibians Soil aerators
Bioindicator Role	Highly sensitive to environmental changes and thus used to assess ecosystem health
Threats	Habitat destruction Pollution Invasive species Climate change
Interesting Facts	Snails can hibernate or aestivate in extreme weather Shells are made of calcium carbonate