A group of researchers from the Goethe University of Frankfurt (Germany) has discovered a new species of snail with a translucent shell and minuscule size . The scientists found a single living specimen and seven empty lakes deep in a cave in Croatia, which helped them determine the existence of a new land snail named Zospeum tholussum .
This small animal, only one millimeter wide, has completely adapted to the dark and has lost visual orientation. Its vitreous spiral shell is thinner and more fragile than that of any other snail , since in an underground environment it does not need surface protection. The absence of light also makes the pigmentation of its shell unnecessary.
According to the researchers, the gastropods of the genus Zospeum prefer a muddy habitat due to their reduced mobility, since the channel of the cave provides them with a great abundance of microorganisms to feed on and allows them to move easily through the current.
