Scientists discovered a new species of a peculiar cave-dwelling
snail in one of the 20 deepest cave systems in the world, Lukina
Jama–Trojama in Croatia.
The newly discovered species belongs to a genus of minute
air-breathing land snails that have lost visual orientation and are
considered to be true eutroglobionts, or exclusive cave-dwellers.
The study describing the new species was published in the open
access journal Subterranean Biology.
The new species Zospeum tholussum is a miniature and fragile snail,
with a beautifully shaped dome-like translucent shell. Only one
living specimen was found during the expedition around the
galleries of the Lukina Jama–Trojama cave system. The animal was
found at the remarkable depth of 980 m, in an unnamed chamber full
of rocks and sand and a small stream running through it.
All known species from the cave-dwelling genus Zospeum possess a
limited ability to move. Their preference of a muddy habitat and
the fact that they are usually located near the drainage system of
the cave, in a close proximity to running water, however suggest
that these animals are not exactly immobile. Scientists hypothesize
that dispersal is achieved through passive transportation via water
or larger mammals.
The Lukina Jama–Trojama is the deepest cave system in Croatia,
extraordinary for its vertical shape, long pits and great depth of
-1392 m. From an ecological point of view this cave system is
extremely interesting for having three microclimatic layers:
firstly entrance icy part with the temperature of about 1 °C,
secondly, middle part with the temperature up to 2 °C and bottom
part with temperature till 4 °C. These unusual living conditions
make the cave extremely interesting for scientist from a
biodiversity point of view.