New Land Snail Species Discovered in Maharashtra's Konkan Region
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Discovery of a new species of land snail in Maharashtra's Konkan region. |
| Name of Species | Theobaldius konkanensis |
| Research Publication | Published in Molluscan Research journal on 11th March 2025. |
| Study Title | "A new species of cyclophorid land snail from the coastal regions of Maharashtra." |
| Endemic Status | Endemic to the northern Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot. |
| Conservation Need | Restricted distribution in Konkan warrants urgent conservation efforts. |
| Habitat | Prefers tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. |
| Activity Period | Live snails found June to September in leaf litter and damp branches; shells in other seasons. |
| Activity Pattern | Active both day and night, especially under shaded forest canopies. |
| Morphology | Thick, conoidally depressed, widely umbilicated shell with increasing whorls; yellowish-brown shell with black striations; triangular aperture notch, raised fold, and short spines. |
| Spire | More elevated compared to other Theobaldius species. |
| Ecological Role | Bioindicators sensitive to climate change; most active during monsoon. |
| Reproductive Biology | Hermaphrodites or separate sexes; reproduction involves courtship, dart-shooting, and both self- and cross-fertilisation. Eggs hatch in 2-4 weeks; lifespan 2 to 7 years. |