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Many people do not like snails, and they often pass unoticed even by natural history afficionados. This is unfortunate because they are fascinating animals with complex biology and behavior. Many have become highly specialised to particular habitats and quite a few are decling, endangered, or even extinct. This species, the Chilean black snail Macrocyclis laxata, lives exclusively in cool, wet forests in southern Chile. These forests are disappearing, and with them, many endemic species, including these very big snails and the small opossum Dromiciops gliroides. Even in relation to other snails, Macrocyclis are quite slow and seem 'calm', in that they need quite a bit of stimulation before they will retreat into their shells. This one was found in native forest in the hills above Valdivia. |
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