A Very Special Snail

I'm home safe and sound. Haven't done much for the rest of today. Chilling. Getting energy stored up for tomorrow when I will need to get moving again. Meanwhile...

I got to see something at the Paleontological Research Institute that I thought I NEVER would have the chance to observe.

First of all you need to see Chittenango Falls. This is in Central New York.

The North Country Trail doesn't go as close to it as I would like. It used to be on the road just above the falls. Now it's in the woods east of the falls. You would need to take a spur trail for about 1/2 mile to see the waterfall. Of course New York is stuffed with falls, but it's a really pretty one.

There is an interpretive sign at the falls about a unique creature. If I have a picture of that sign (which I thought I did), I can't find it. The critter is a snail. The Chittenango Ovate Amber Snail, Novisuccinea chittenangoensis. It's only found one place in the world, and it's in the spray on one side of this waterfall. There are 50-75 snails in the wild. It's hard to get an accurate population count.

There are also several captive populations at research facilities. People are trying to learn about what makes these snails happy without reducing the wild population.

So, on Tuesday, I saw a terrarium stuffed with dead leaves. I wondered if it housed a snake of some kind or a small mammal. I asked. Warren started talking about the Chittenango Snail and was shocked that I actually knew about it! I was equally shocked that they had some.

This one wanted his-her picture taken. It's sitting on a romaine lettuce leaf. Apparently individuals can be recognized by the pattern on their shells!

For one thing, I thought they were tiny, tiny snails. Not so. They are about 3/4 of an inch long!

An article in the Journal of Molluscan Studies says they only like romaine lettuce when they are getting ready to mate, even though it's a standard diet for most captive snails. The article does give some leaves that have been found to be preferred by Chitt (the nickname for this snail). They like some hickory and walnut. Cherry and oak in certain stages of decomposition are highly preferred. Seems this is a gourmand snail. Very fussy eater. There is a long list of leaves they won't even nibble.

Now for reproduction. Snails and slugs are hermaphrodites. Each individual is both sexes. Remember hearing about the snails' "love dart?" One snail shoots a projectile into another snail which stimulates the desire to reproduce. They bond for 10-15 hours and exchange packets of sperm. Then each snail lays eggs.

I am beyond pleased that I got to see these little critters!

Tomorrow I have to get my tush in gear.

See Paleontological Research Institute