New Land Snail Species ‘Theobaldius konkanensis’ Discovered in Maharashtra’s Konkan Region.
Environment
In March 2025, a collaborative team of researchers from India and the United Kingdom (UK) recently discovered a new species of land snail named 'Theobaldius konkanensis' in the Konkan region of Maharashtra.
- The discovery was published in the international journal Molluscan Research (MR), based in New Zealand, highlighting the rich and relatively unexplored biodiversity of the Western Ghats.
- The discovery stems from a 2021 survey conducted across select locations in Ratnagiri and Raigad districts of Maharashtra.
- The new species was observed at Dev Gireshwar Temple (Ansure, Ratnagiri), Uttamrao Patil Biodiversity Park (Chikhali, Chiplun-Guhagar Road, Ratnagiri), Kesharnath Vishnu Temple (Shedwai, Ratnagiri), and Phansad Sanctuary (Raigad).
Main Point :- (i) Theobaldius konkanensis is endemic to the northern Western Ghats, a recognized biodiversity hotspot. It was recorded in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests at altitudes ranging from 80 to 240 meters above sea level.
(ii) The newly discovered land snail, Theobaldius konkanensis, features a thick, conoidally depressed shell with brown striations and a corneous yellow tint, giving it a distinctive appearance suited to its natural habitat. Its small size, though not precisely measured, sets it apart morphologically from related species.
(iii) The snail’s body is stout and rounded, an adaptation well-suited for survival in the humid, forested ecosystems of the Western Ghats. These features support its ability to thrive in evergreen and semi-evergreen forest environments.
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