UINTAH COUNTY, Utah – People moving to Utah to enjoy all that the state has to offer is nothing new, but a new species of snail has joined the crowd.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources says the new native species was discovered in April when biologists were taking surveys in the northeastern part of the state.
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
The Zoogenetes harpa snail, better known as the boreal tip snail, was first spotted in Dry Fork Canyon in the Uinta Mountains. It was then seen a few weeks later in Big Brush Creek Canyon.
So far, eight of the snails have been found in the area. They were all discovered under fallen logs at or near the bottom of the ravines.
Wildlife officials say the tiny snail, which is only 4 millimeters long, has a unique shell that differs from other land snails in Utah. The reddish-brown, conical shell is ribbed along the lower spirals.
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
The new species of snail is also good for the environment as it is non-invasive.
“Since land snails feed on living and dead plant material and help break down leaf litter and rotting wood, they are an important piece of the puzzle for healthy, functioning ecosystems,” says DWR Native Aquatics biologist Jordon Detlor. “They are, in turn, a source of food for various insects, small mammals, and even some birds, including grouse and turkeys. Snails are part of the rich diversity of wildlife that we enjoy here in Utah. “
The boreal tip snail has been seen in places like Japan, Scandinavia, and the Swiss Alps, but now calls Utah home as well.
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