River creature — that uses its shell to ‘dance’ — discovered as new species in China
In its temporary home at a laboratory aquarium in China, a river creature began to “dance.” The small animal twisted its shell in circles, sometimes changing direction.
Scientists watched the animal. They were looking at a new species.
Researchers visited a river in China’s Guangxi Province in 2022 and 2023 to survey local wildlife, according to a study published March 28 in the peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys.
During their visits, the researchers captured five river snails, the study said. They put the tiny animals in an aquarium and observed them for a year.
Studying the snails, researchers realized they’d discovered a new species: Fenouilia undata, or the wavy freshwater snail.
Wavy freshwater snails are considered “small,” with shells that measure about 0.1 inches in height, the study said. They have “amber-yellow” shells with a spiral shape and opening covered by a “slightly transparent” flap. Their bodies are “smooth” and “light gray.”
A photo shows a wavy freshwater snail perched on a rock. The cream-colored animal appears to blend in with its surroundings. The shell appears to have a bumpy, ribbed texture.
While in captivity, wavy freshwater snails ate algae off stones or grasses and laid several “brownish” eggs on the rocks, the study said. Researchers also saw the snails “perform a ‘dance’ in which they repeatedly twisted their shells clockwise or counterclockwise.”
Researchers said they named the new species after the Latin word “undata,” meaning “wavy,” because of the shape of its shell.
So far, wavy freshwater snails have only been found in the Longjiang River in Guangxi Province, the study said. Guangxi Province is in southern China, along the border with Vietnam.
The new species was identified by its shell, coloring, body shape, other subtle physical features and DNA, the study said.
The research team included Hui Chen, Yue Ming He, Chong Rui Wang and Da Pan.
This story was originally published April 3, 2024 at 7:34 AM with the headline "River creature — that uses its shell to ‘dance’ — discovered as new species in China."
