Shillong, June 25: Scientists have discovered two new species of microscopic and brightly coloured snails in Meghalaya’s limestone cave systems, shedding light on the state’s rich yet largely unexplored subterranean biodiversity.
The discovery has been published in the European Journal of Taxonomy and was made by researchers Nipu Kumar Das and Neelavar Ananthram Aravind of the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE).
The newly identified species have been named Georissa meghalayaensis and Acmella bensoni. They were found in the Krem Puri and Arwah cave systems respectively and are among the smallest molluscs recorded from the region, requiring microscopic analysis for identification.
Georissa meghalayaensis was discovered near the entrance of Krem Puri cave and is distinguished by its orangish-red shell and mesh-like ridges. The species has been named after Meghalaya, where it is currently known to exist only.
The second species, Acmella bensoni, was found deeper within the Krem Puri and Arwah cave networks. It has a tiny, translucent whitish shell with fine ribs and grooves, and has been named in honour of naturalist William H. Benson.
Researchers noted that Meghalaya, part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, has more than 1,200 limestone caves that support a wide range of specialised cave-dwelling organisms. However, much of this underground ecosystem remains poorly studied.
The study also recorded several other micro-snail species from neighbouring states such as Manipur and Mizoram, helping expand understanding of the distribution of these organisms across Northeast India.
Scientists have also warned that cave ecosystems are under growing threat due to increasing tourism, artificial lighting, infrastructure development and limestone mining. They stressed the need for stronger conservation measures to protect these fragile habitats and Meghalaya’s unique subterranean biodiversity.
