New species of snail finds home after 100 years in hiding

It has taken 110 years to cover 27 painstaking metres, but one of Britain’s most recently discovered species has finally found a home.

Papillifera papillaris - a type of Italian snail - arrived in England near the end of the 19th century, having hitched a ride on a stone balustrade imported from Rome. It then disappeared.

A colony of the tiny snails, which have distinctive spindle-shaped shells 11mm long, has now been found on the “tortoise fountain” in the Italian-style gardens of the Cliveden Estate, Buckinghamshire.

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Fascinating! The snails avoided human detection for 100 years, even though they lived in public park. Those are some very sneaky and very slow snails.

For some reason, I’ve always pictured snails as being very wise and benevolent little mollusks. I think this is because they move so slowly. I envision slow-moving animals as very patient and thoughtful, who would never choose to rush through life even if they could.

Also, have you ever noticed how beautiful a snail’s dried slime trail can be? I know you’re probably thinking, “Did she really just use the words “beautiful” and “slime trail” in the same sentence? REALLY?” But look at one sometime, preferably on a rock, in the bright sunshine. The snail’s slime trail will glisten and shimmer with an iridescence that is seemingly uncharacteristic to a drab, brown, unassuming snail.