World-first video shows rare captive snail performing 'remarkable' act
Thousands of snails were collected then monitored at a secure facility to try and prevent its extinction.
This is the first time a Powelliphanta augusta snail has been filmed laying an egg. Source: DOC
In a world-first, a unique species of land snail has been filmed laying what resembles a tiny 'hen's egg' from its neck. Little is known about the strange species of New Zealand mollusc, and so the video has caused excitement around the facility where it lives.
Because Powelliphanta augusta snails are protected by a hard shell, their reproductive pores, which double as an egg-laying vent, developed on their soft, accessible necks. Department of Conservation (DOC) senior science advisor Kath Walker explained the snail only needs to 'peek out of its shell to do the business'.
'It extends its penis out of this pore and into its mate's pore, and its mate does the same, simultaneously exchanging sperm, which they can store until they each fertilise the sperm they've received to create eggs,' Walker said.
'As hermaphrodites, they have both male and female genitalia, so although they usually mate with another to cross-fertilise their eggs, as carnivores which have to live at relatively low density, being able to occasionally self-fertilise must help with survival of the species.'
Related: 'Surprising' insight reveals snail's favourite colour and most hated food
Why are snails being held in captivity?
The 20-second video shows the snail at a captive facility at Hokitika on the South Island, which is dedicated to the snail's protection.
DOC has 1,884 snails and 2,195 eggs at the captive facility and ranger Lisa Flanagan said it was 'remarkable' no one had witnessed a snail excreting an egg before.
The facility became necessary after mining company Solid Energy was permitted to destroy the snail's habitat across the Mount Augustus ridgeline on the western side of the South Island's Stockton Plateau.
Before the mining began in 2006, DOC workers collected 4,000 snails and relocated them to new sites. Monitoring of their ability to adapt is still ongoing.
To safeguard the species from extinction, DOC took 2,000 snails into captivity. Until 2016, the breeding program was funded by Solid Energy, which was a condition of its permit. Today, the work is funded by the government, using compensation from the miner.
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