A new land snail species was discovered by scientists in the Philippines and in none other than Masungi Georeserve, a nature reserve located in Rizal.
According to the report published in the Philippine Journal of Systematic Biology, the scientists who discovered this new micro snail hailed from the University of the Philippines Los Baños. Their names are Harold B. Lipae, Angelique L. Estabillo, Ian Kendrich C. Fontanilla, and Emmanuel Ryan C. de Chavez.
https://www.facebook.com/masungigeoreserve/posts/2909974039288808
According to the scientists, it took three years of research and genetic analysis to establish the new subspecies. Known by its scientific name Hypselostoma latispira masungiensis, the land snail was described to be a “karst-dependent land snail which can be found attached to limestone boulders feeding on lichens and other vegetation.” Upon measuring, the snail was found to be less than 5 millimeters in size, almost the size of a worker ant. Thus, it is classified as a micro snail.
Photo from Masungi Georeserve
As part of its joint venture project with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Masungi, and its mother organization, Blue Star, has been protecting the karst formations since 1996. And take note: this is the habitat of the H.I. Masungiensis.
“If the rocks and soils are extracted, these species will be annihilated without a trace, said Ann Dumaliang, Managing Trustee at the Masungi Georeserve Foundation. “We all need to be working together to ensure the perpetual conservation of known and unknown species living here. It is possible by genuinely protecting and restoring the land, their habitat.”
[Also Read: LOOK: “Jurassic” plants grow in Masungi Georeserve]
What do you think of this new discovery?
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