Researchers have documented two newly discovered snail species in Montenegro, expanding the catalogued diversity of European land snails. The species, designated Cochlostoma komarnica and Cochlostoma dobrido, were formally described in a recent publication in the Biodiversity Data Journal. Both creatures are notably small, with cone-shaped shells approximately 6 mm in length, and inhabit limestone rock formations where they consume algae and lichens.
The snails possess several distinctive anatomical characteristics that set them apart from most terrestrial snail species. Their eyes are located along the sides of their heads rather than positioned at the ends of eye stalks, a feature uncommon among land snails. Additionally, they possess a circular disk structure attached to their tails that functions similarly to a door, sealing the shell opening when the animal withdraws inside for protection.
The snails were identified during expeditions conducted between 2018 and 2025 in Montenegro’s mountainous regions, organized through a collaborative partnership between Taxon Expeditions, the Taxon Foundation, and local representatives from the Montenegrin Ecologists Society. Field teams comprised international researchers, citizen scientists, local students, and conservation professionals who surveyed biodiversity in Durmitor National Park and Komarnica Canyon. The specimens were discovered across several locations in the challenging terrain, but their status as previously unknown species only became apparent following detailed examination and genetic analysis performed in field laboratories.
The research team selected names for the new species through a voting process conducted at the expedition camp. One species takes its name from the Dobri Do Plateau within Durmitor National Park, while the other is named after the Komarnica Canyon located to the south. Conservation experts have highlighted concerns regarding plans to construct a hydropower dam and reservoir that would submerge Komarnica Canyon, potentially destroying its ecosystem and numerous undocumented species within the region. Conservation organizations are conducting extensive biodiversity surveys in the canyon to establish scientific justification for environmental protection measures.
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