From left: Barberton local and snail enthusiast, Kobie du Preez, Kenneth Brown, President of the Conchological Society of South Africa, and Maurice Evans are looking at the shell of a Gulella species they found on Mountainlands
The mountainlands of Barberton harbour some of the oldest landscapes on the planet. They shelter ancient forests and kloofs, which are the home of many birds and animals. Amongst the latter are a cornucopia of minute landshells (terrestrial snails), which have quietly gone about their business since at very least the last Ice Age. Our country has over 850 species, many of which are endemic and hugely under threat of extinction, largely from habitat loss and climate change. Mountainlands Nature Reserve is one of those special places that protects biodiversity and the unique and often unseen special world that surrounds us.
The green arrow points to the tiny Gulella contraria shell, a species endemic to the Barberton Makhonjwa mountains.
Allow me to then introduce you to just one special genus of landshell, the Gulellae, in a very large superfamily of carnivore or hunter shells called the Streptaxoidea. They eat other live snails, slugs and worms, and most are very small – under 5mm in height. They shelter in these forest refuges of Mountainlands, and in the Barberton area alone there are several endemic species.
Delia Oosthuizen hosted several of us on Mountainlands, and graciously showed us around the special place to look for spots perfect for these snails. We were privileged to find a number of landshells.
I have enclosed photos of a few species found in Barberton and in the Mountainlands Nature Reserve, and hope you will pass beyond the stereotypical labelling of “yuck, its a snail” to see the special beauty that they have, and which so few of us will ever take the time to see.
Gulellas from the Barberton area. Photos by Kenneth Brown
If you are at all interested in marine, freshwater or landshells, feel free to contact the Conchological Society of South Africa. We range from amateurs and “citizen scientists” to professional zoologists and have a wide range of knowledge and expertise on the special fauna that grace our shores and interior. Just type in our name on any search engine and you will find our website. Or contact me, Ken Brown at brownkenneth924@gmail.com. I am the current President of the Society.