In Montenegro, two small snail species have been discovered, and their shells shut like doors. These findings increase what scientists know about European land snails, while one of the pair is threatened by a proposed hydropower dam that would flood its canyon home before researchers can fully understand the life within it.
A new study published in the open-access journal Biodiversity Data Journal describes two species, Cochlostoma komarnica and Cochlostoma dobrido, neither of which carries an English common name. The shell of each is cone-shaped and measures roughly 6 mm in length. They dwell on limestone rocks and subsist by grazing upon algae and lichens.
The Snails’ Unusual Features
Several strange features set these snails apart from other land snails. Their eyes sit along the sides of the head instead of atop eye stalks, which is unusual for species of this kind. Another oddity: they possess a round disk on the tail that acts as a lid, closing off the shell opening whenever the creature withdraws into its home.
Citizen Science Finds the Animals
Expeditions run by Taxon Expeditions, which allows members of the public to join real scientific fieldwork, turned up the snails. From 2018 through 2025, Montenegro missions happened via a joint effort between Taxon Expeditions, the non-profit Taxon Foundation, and local partners at the Montenegrin Ecologists Society.
A team of field workers assembled a group of people from around the world, including citizen scientists, local students, and conservationists, to study the variety of life found in Durmitor National Park and Komarnica Canyon. The researchers came across the snails at multiple places during their work amid the park’s rough mountain country.
The creatures’ identity remained uncertain until they were cut open and their genes were examined in the field laboratory, revealing species previously unknown to science.
Naming the Species
The expedition team chose the names during a vote held at camp. “Cochlostoma dobrido” was named after the Dobri Do Plateau, located among the peaks of Durmitor National Park. “Cochlostoma komarnica” takes its name from the stunning but unprotected Komarnica Canyon, which lies south of Durmitor.
Janine Buisman, a musician from The Netherlands who took part in one of the expeditions and went on to become a co-author of the paper, is quoted as saying “I was amazed that it is still possible to discover new animal species in Europe,”.
A Vote Among the Camp
The entire team was involved in the naming process, with every member having input on the final selection. The decision was made by vote while the group was at camp.
Conservation Concerns in Komarnica
A proposed hydropower dam looms over the Komarnica Canyon. According to biologist Jovana Đokić of the Montenegrin Ecologists Society (MES), a co-author of the study, the canyons, mountains, and gorges of this region of the Balkans hold considerable biodiversity that has not yet been fully examined, with many species likely still unknown to science.
“It is all the more worrying that the Komarnica Canyon is targeted to be flooded by a hydropower dam and reservoir. This will destroy this wild river canyon and all the biodiversity in it, including many species still unknown to science.”
The Scientific Case for Protection
Komarnica Canyon is now the subject of organized biodiversity surveys, thanks to the proposed development, which has made it a major focus of research. Scientists and conservation organizations are cataloging its wildlife in order to build a scientific case for protecting the area.
The MES has put forward a proposal that the Komarnica Canyon be added to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Durmitor, while also demanding that plans for the hydropower project be scrapped.
“Hydropower is neither green nor sustainable energy when it destroys a unique ecosystem like this,” says Đokić.
What the Discoveries Mean
The study underscores the worth of public involvement in scientific research. Taxon Expeditions pairs citizen scientists with professional researchers, giving the public a chance to join real fieldwork.
The land snails highlight the importance of conservation planning that takes into account entire ecosystems rather than focusing solely on single species. The Komarnica Canyon’s future depends on whether its biodiversity can be recorded before construction of the dam begins.
Key Facts
- Species: Cochlostoma komarnica and Cochlostoma dobrido
- Shell size: About 6 mm in length, cone-shaped
- Diet: Algae and lichens on limestone rocks
- Eye placement: Along the sides of the head, not at the tips of eye stalks
- Sealing mechanism: A circular disk attached to the tail seals the shell opening like a door
- Expedition period: 2018–2025
- Study published in: Biodiversity Data Journal
- DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.14.e196955
These two newly discovered species serve as proof that Europe has not yet revealed all its hidden creatures to human knowledge. The Komarnica Canyon now sits at a turning point, and the future of these snails rests on whether the world listens before the dam rises.
Source material: “Scientists find two tiny new snails with shells that close like doors,” ScienceDaily.
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