At an altitude of over 2,000 meters: a unique snail discovered in China receives a mythological name
A freshwater snail living in dark underground caves has been named after a figure from Chinese mythology. This first-of-its-kind discovery highlights the urgent need for extensive cave surveys to protect such vulnerable species.
A significant milestone has been reached in the study of subterranean aquatic life in East Asia with the first-of-its-kind documentation of a freshwater cave snail in China. The snail, scientifically named Erhaia dijiang, is a true troglobite, perfectly adapted to its dark environment. Its shell is small, conical, and highly transparent. Due to the complete absence of light, its eye structure has degenerated and its skin lacks pigment, though its sensitivity to ground vibrations is highly developed to compensate.
Researchers named the snail after "Dijiang," a divine entity from the ancient text "Classic of Mountains and Seas." This classic work, finalized during the Han dynasty, combines geography and folklore, and the name aptly reflects the snail's habit of avoiding daylight.
Beyond its mythological name, the species is notable for its habitat. Discovered at an altitude of 2,062 meters, Erhaia dijiang sets a new record for the highest distribution among all known cave-dwelling snails of the Erhaiidae family. The study, published in the journal Subterranean Biology, confirms that freshwater cave snails can thrive at altitudes exceeding 2,000 meters.
The species lives in rocky environments at depths of less than one meter, where water temperatures remain consistently around 20 degrees Celsius. While heavy rains occasionally wash a few individuals toward the cave entrance, they are never found in nearby surface streams. In laboratory settings, the snails fed on diatoms and artificial fish food.
However, the research team warns that the survival status of this newly discovered species is "far from optimistic." During field surveys in August 2025, only three live adults and one empty shell were found. Researchers are now urgently calling for extensive cave surveys across China to better understand these complex ecosystems and develop conservation measures for these vulnerable, endemic mollusks.
