The National Institute of Biodiversity (Inabio) reported the discovery of two new species of microscopic land snails in the Un poco del Chocó Nature Reserve, located in the province of Pichincha, Ecuador.
The specimens were named Chocodiscops minutissimus and Radiadiscops demistriatus, both belonging to the family Scolodontidae. With less than two millimeters in width, they rank among the smallest land snails documented in Ecuador and throughout the Andean region.
Two new genera for science
The discovery was made possible by an international research team consisting of specialists from Ecuador, the Netherlands, and Germany. The morphological characteristics of the shell — shape, presence or absence of ribs, and size of the umbilicus — did not match any known genus. This led researchers to propose two completely new genera for science.
According to Inabio, this discovery represents a contribution of great scientific relevance, as until now only one microscopic species of Scolodontidae had been formally described in Ecuador.
Fieldwork and analysis
The specimens were collected during fieldwork conducted in 2019 and subsequently analyzed using electron microscopy and high-resolution techniques in laboratories in Ecuador and Europe.
The Un poco del Chocó Reserve is located in a transition zone between two major biodiversity hotspots: the Chocó Tumbesino and the Tropical Andes, regions already recognized for their great diversity of land mollusks.
Hidden diversity of micromollusks
For the researchers, this finding confirms that many species are still waiting to be discovered, especially among tropical micromollusks. The identification of these new species suggests that the hidden diversity is much greater than previously assumed in the ecosystems of South America.
The discovery also highlights the importance of conserving natural areas like the Un poco del Chocó Reserve, which serve as refuges for tiny and little-known species, yet essential for ecological balance.
Scientific and ecological importance
- New genera described: Chocodiscops and Radiadiscops.
- Minimum dimensions: less than 2 mm in width, among the smallest in the region.
- Scientific relevance: they contribute knowledge about the Scolodontidae family, little studied in Ecuador.
- Conservation: they reinforce the need to protect tropical ecosystems where still unknown species reside.
The discovery of Chocodiscops minutissimus and Radiadiscops demistriatus opens a window into the hidden biodiversity of South American micromollusks. These tiny snails, invisible to the naked eye, confirm that tropical ecosystems harbor a much greater biological richness than we know, and there is still a vast world to discover under the lens of science.
