Angus DavisonI work on colourful Cuban snails (Polymita) and European snails (Cepaea). The last person to do that - at least according to Web of Science - was Alex Comfort. Now where do I know that name from?? π€ππ€π« #snails #cepaea #polymita
The world needs more Polymita π This one is Polymita sulphurosa, superb pic by Julio Larramendi. Bonus, we now have a genome sequence! π #snails #polymita
Today feeling like Santa π
when he receives mail at the North Pole π·.
Letter addressed to "Polymita Tree Snail Department, Nottingham University" found its way to me, one of two people in the "Dept of Tree Snails" at Nottingham. It is signed by a "Robert J. Smith" π·οΈπΈοΈ π, no really πΈ. Could it could it could could it be The Robert J. Smith?!
#TheCure #Polymita #Snails #Lovecats #Lovesnails #UoN
Letter addressed to "Polymita Tree Snail Department, Nottingham University" found its way to me, one of two people in the "Dept of Tree Snails" at Nottingham. It is signed by a "Robert J. Smith" π·οΈπΈοΈ π, no really πΈ. Could it could it could could it be The Robert J. Smith?!
#TheCure #Polymita #Snails #Lovecats #Lovesnails #UoN
I especially love the set design that they used on BBC News at Ten, although note the sinistral Polymita π on the right. Interesting fact is that presenter Clive Myrie visited the main town we were working from, Baracoa, as part of his Caribbean adventure https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m001zpmm/clive-myries-caribbean-adventure #polymita #caribbean #snails #bbc
BBC pictures of the week and also quiz of the week's news https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20250807-the-best-science-pictures-of-the-week https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c99m1m47vnko #snails #polymita #BBC
Much fun filming with Vic Gill, camera crew somehow made my office look quite nice and not full of dead snails and multiple pairs of old trainers.
Update: illegally traded shells have now disappeared from Etsy.
#etsy #polymita
Somehow turned my Cuban adventures back in March into "breaking news", snail-bombing the whole of the BBC and beyond π€π. Highlight was probably the ITN News at 10 feature that ended with prolonged footage of two snails mating, which is not something I ever imagined could happen in real life on a primetime news programme. Did they know what they were broadcasting? At least it was after 9 pm watershed. #snails #bbc #polymita #UoN #conservation
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyrv8ndzzjo
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyrv8ndzzjo
Andy#Snails #Polymita #PolymitaSnail #Snail #nature #Cuba #treesnails #Gastropods #Gastropoda #beauty #beautiful #wildlife
No matter how rare or beautiful something is, thereβs always someone whoβll sacrifice it for profit. What a sad story this is, and selling shells should be made illegal. Hopefully itβs not too late to save the species.
Mission begins to save snails threatened by own beauty https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyrv8ndzzjo
Snails of Cuba! In the end, we found 5 species, including the most endangered and arguably also most beautiful, Polymita sulphurosa. Unfortunately, we also encountered illegal sale of the shells on mountain pass.
Why? Project is on the evolution and conservation of these snails, led by Dr Bernardo Reyes in Cuba and working with colleagues from London zoo, Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
