In the forests of Eastern Cuba, some of the world’s most spectacular snails are facing extinction precisely because they’re so breathtakingly beautiful that collectors can’t resist them. Polymita tree snails display shells with vibrant lime green backgrounds, electric blue flame patterns, and brilliant orange and yellow bands that look more like works of art than anything nature should be able to create. The most endangered species, Polymita sulphurosa, has become so sought after that collectors are willing to pay £160 for just seven shells, driving these incredible creatures toward extinction through illegal trade.
Scientists from the University of Nottingham and Universidad de Oriente in Cuba have joined forces in a desperate race against time to save all six known Polymita species through captive breeding and genetic research. Professor Bernardo Reyes-Tur has brought the snails into his own home in Eastern Cuba, caring for them despite constant power outages and challenging conditions, while his British colleagues use advanced genetic sequencing to unlock the biological secrets behind their extraordinary colors. The international team hopes to understand how these snails evolved their stunning patterns and use that knowledge to protect them before the shell trade pushes them into extinction. This heartbreaking irony that the very beauty making these snails scientifically fascinating is also sealing their doom, has created an urgent mission to preserve one of nature’s most dazzling creations.