A tiny snail from Maharashtra’s forests has caught global attention. Researchers from the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation have discovered a new species of hairy snail in the evergreen Tilari forest of Kolhapur district.
Tilari Hairy Snail Named After Studio Ghibli Co-founder
The newly found species has been named Lagocheilus hayaomiyazakii sp. nov., honouring Japanese animator and Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki. The study describing the discovery was published on October 14 in the Journal of Conchology by the Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Researchers Amrut Bhosale, Tejas Thackeray, Swapnil Pawar, and Akshay Khandekar from Thackeray Wildlife Foundation, along with Dr Dinarzarde Raheem from Rajarata University, Sri Lanka, were behind the discovery.
According to Bhosale, the small snail lives in semi-evergreen forests, hiding among leafy thickets and rocks. He said the name honours Miyazaki for portraying the harmony between humans and nature, similar to the hidden life within these forests.
Extending the Range of Lagocheilus in India
The species marks the first record of the genus Lagocheilus from the northern Western Ghats, extending its known distribution by 540 kilometres north into the Indian peninsula. Researchers said limited studies have been conducted on snails from the region, leaving much to learn about their biodiversity.
Tejas Thackeray said the snail’s habitat is highly restricted and under threat from deforestation and wildfires. He warned that the species could face extinction if its habitat continues to shrink. He added that further research is needed to understand its role in the local ecosystem and the importance of conserving such unique species in the Western Ghats.
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