π China finds first freshwater cave snail, but it's super rare
Scientists discovered China's first freshwater cave snail, Erhaia dijiang, deep inside a dark mountain cave in southwestern China. This rare troglobite species was found in Hongta District of Yuxi City in Yunnan Province. The discovery was made in August 2025, revealing only three living adults and one empty shell. This species is highly specialized, living in a high-altitude karst system, making it vulnerable to any local threat. Researchers are now urging wider surveys across China to check for other populations. π§