Last week we considered some of the unusual and pretty snails in various parts of the world. Here are a few more.
Let’s look at some that make their homes in Idaho on the shores of the famous Snake River and other streams. These include the Bruneau Hot Springs variety, the Idaho Spring snail, the Bliss Rapids snail and several others. All of them have pretty shells, but unfortunately, a related one, the mud snail, is gradually taking over the limited food supply along most of these streams. Biologists are afraid it may wind up as the only survivor.
Another serious problem is that harmful things are being dumped into these waters, and many snails die because of this. Also, many cows and horses graze on the banks of these streams, eating the brush that shaded the snails, and they cannot survive very long in the direct sunshine that results.
People are becoming alarmed by what is happening to these snails and the beautiful streams. They are aware that the change is not only harmful to snails, but to fish, animals and birds, as well as the people themselves. Let’s hope something will be done to keep the waters clean and help our friends the snails, and other things, before it is too late.
The little agate snails of Hawaii are considered to be the most beautiful snails on earth. A typical variety has a many-colored shell, deep black over most of the center, behind a pure white disk around the open end and a tapered brown, white and tan pointed end. Another variety in that family has a shell totally green in the front half and followed by tannish-brown sections, out to a pearl-white point at the back.
Still another Hawaiian beauty is the Oahu tree snail. The pointed end of its shell is white, ringed with a pink band and followed by a deep brown section, then a narrow black portion, separated from the front and back by narrow white and pink rings, with the remaining front portion all black.
In New Zealand there is a species referred to as the giant land snail, which has a shell different than the others. It is flat, about an inch wide and spirals around its side to the front opening. Some of this group are agate-colored and others a variety of brown with a dark raised top center. It emerges from this pretty home by an opening on the side, rather than the front or bottom as most others do.
If you find snails interesting, go to your library and you will find this branch of God’s creation is very interesting to study. How amazing to think that God created 80,000 different kinds of just lowly snails. He designed each one in His own wisdom. We should thank Him that we have such interesting creatures to enjoy.
ML-03/07/1993