A large-scale study of nearly 700 species of Neogastropoda provides strong evidence for their single evolutionary origin, identifying four new families and a previously undetected burst of diversification in the early Cenozoic. This finding challenges existing knowledge of marine snail diversity and evolutionary history.
The newly discovered species Erhaia dijiang is a true troglobiont, adapted to its pitch-black environment with degenerated eyes and a highly translucent shell. It inhabits underwater gravel and crushed stone at depths of less than one meter, where water temperatures remain consistently near 20°C.
The discovery of two new snail species in Montenegro highlights the need to protect the country's biodiversity. The snails, found in Durmitor National Park and Komarnica Canyon, were described as having unique features such as conical shells and a circular disk on their tails.
A team of researchers has discovered a new genus and species of subterranean freshwater snail, Cyllena hermes, in the Peloponnese region of southern Greece. The species is highly sensitive to environmental stressors due to its reliance on a single, isolated water source.
Researchers have discovered a key protein, RTMP1, guiding the formation of chitons' ultra-hard iron-based teeth. This finding offers new insights into biomineralization and potential inspiration for novel materials design.
Researchers have made significant breakthroughs in understanding the regeneration of a freshwater snail's eyes, which share anatomical and genetic features with human eyes. The study shows that snails can regrow their eyes after amputation, with all eye structures present within a month.
Researchers have discovered a new species of deep-sea limpet, measuring up to 40.5 mm in shell length, found 5,922 meters beneath the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The species, named Bathylepeta wadatsumi, has broader ecological implications as it appears to graze on sediment layers over rock.
A team of researchers at Kyoto University has identified four species of snail parasites in Japanese sea cucumbers, including two previously unknown species. The study provides insights into the geographic distribution and invasion routes of these tiny parasites, which have a significant impact on the health of their host species.
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba investigated the developmental fate of shell-forming cells in limpets using single-cell transcriptome and gene expression analyses. They found that the developmental fate of these cells was specified independently of interactions with neighboring cell lineages, contradicting conventional hypothe...
A team of scientists has discovered a new species of snail, Anauchen picasso, named after artist Pablo Picasso. The unique shell shape and features make it stand out from other snails.
Researchers have named two freshwater snail species, Idiopyrgus eowynae and Idiopyrgus meriadoci, after J.R.R. Tolkien's characters Éowyn and Meriadoc Brandybuck. The newly discovered species are troglobitic and have unique adaptations to their subterranean environment.
Researchers at University of Tsukuba have achieved the first successful lab rearing of Hypselodoris festiva, revealing a previously unknown growth process. The study describes nine stages of development, from metamorphosis to adulthood, and provides a reference for further research on Chromodorididae species.
Researchers have sequenced 52 Psilocybe specimens, including 39 species previously unsequenced, to understand the evolution of psychoactive psilocybin production. The study reveals two distinct gene orders within the psilocybin-producing gene cluster, suggesting an ancient split in the genus.
Researchers discovered 50 genetic changes underlying the switch from egg-laying to live-bearing in marine snails, which evolved within the past 100,000 years. The findings provide insights into the evolutionary process and potential benefits of live-bearing, including increased reproductive success in new habitats.
Researchers analyzed the survival mechanisms of snail species during the end-Triassic mass extinction event. Over half of other gastropod species were affected, with some species exhibiting adaptations that allowed them to thrive.
A team of ecologists from CU museum identified over 7,000 organisms, mostly bacteria, in the guts of Rocky Mountain snails collected between 1920 and 2018. The findings show that microbiomes can offer insights into how animals interacted with their environments centuries ago.
Researchers found that the Asian tramp snail B. similaris consumes fungal pathogens causing coffee leaf rust, reducing their numbers by up to 30% on infected leaves. However, further studies are needed to understand potential tradeoffs and the snail's effect on other controlling factors.
Researchers uncover ancient bead-making settlement on Raleigh Island, featuring high-production facilities for lightning whelk shells. The site predates the Mississippian era chiefdoms and offers insights into pre-Columbian economies.
Researchers have discovered that Arctic micromolluscs can exhibit pseudohermaphroditism due to pollution, providing a new method for environmental monitoring. The study found a correlation between the presence of organic tin compounds and the incidence of this anomaly in snails.
Research found that snails' coiled shells are driven by a protein gradient and asymmetry in Decapentaplegic expression, contrasting with limpet shells which lack this asymmetry. The study provides an explanation for the evolution of shell coiling in gastropods.
A team of MIT materials scientists report that the scaly-foot snail's three-layered shell structure helps dissipate mechanical energy, making it stronger than other naturally occurring or manmade armor. By copying this unique design, scientists could develop better armor for military use.
Researchers from the University of Granada and CSIC have studied the growing mechanism of gastropods' nacre. The study reveals that nacre grows in terraces due to a membrane that covers and protects it from seawater, and proposes new possibilities for its use in biomedicine.
A UCSD biologists' study links human impacts along the coast to size declines of marine snails, particularly among owl limpets and Gilded turban snails. The researchers found that human activity, not environmental change, has led to diminished size in gastropods on the southern California coast.