The discovery of the endangered Shagreen snail on the mainland of Ontario, outside of its previously known range on Middle Island and Pelee Island in Lake Erie, has generated excitement among conservationists. The sighting, made by Scott Gillingwater, a biologist with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, was initially believed to be a Northern Threetooth Snail. However, upon uploading photographs to the iNaturalist app, it was correctly identified as a Shagreen snail by the app’s community of experts. The identification was further confirmed by snail experts Annegret Nicolai and Robert Forsyth. A second specimen has since been found on the property where the initial sighting occurred. This discovery is significant as it expands the known range of the Shagreen snail and provides hope for recovery efforts. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada’s 2019 status report indicated that the snail was previously known to exist only on the two islands, with historical records from the Leamington area and Point Pelee National Park. The snail is also found in some parts of the United States. Gillingwater expressed enthusiasm about the discovery, stating that it could lead to increased conservation efforts. He hopes that the sighting will encourage others to search for the snail and potentially uncover additional populations. The Shagreen snail prefers the Carolinian zone, a small region of southwestern Ontario that supports a unique ecosystem. The decline of the Shagreen snail population remains somewhat enigmatic, but habitat loss and climate change are suspected to be contributing factors. Gillingwater believes that studying the mainland population may provide valuable insights into the species’ decline. Ongoing surveys aim to document the presence of the snail on the property and neighboring areas. Understanding the habitat of the mainland population, which may differ from its island habitats on Middle Island and Pelee Island, could prove crucial for conservation efforts. Gillingwater emphasizes that the animals themselves often hold the answers to their conservation, and this discovery brings renewed hope for the protection and recovery of the endangered Shagreen snail.
Endangered Shagreen Snail Found on Ontario Mainland
