Pseudomphala zhoushanensis Liu, a newly identified snail species found on Zhoushan's tidal flats. [Photo provided to the official news website of Zhoushan]

A new snail species has been discovered on the tidal flats of Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province.

The species, named Pseudomphala zhoushanensis Liu, after the Zhoushan archipelago, was identified through a joint study by the Zhoushan Marine Environment Monitoring and Forecasting Center and researchers from East China Normal University. The findings have been published in the international taxonomy journal ZooKeys.

The tiny yellow-green snail was first collected during routine biological monitoring on Zhoushan's intertidal flats in April 2024. After failing to match any known records, researchers conducted detailed morphological and genetic analyses, confirming it as a previously undescribed species.

Although only a few millimeters in size, the snail plays an important ecological role by feeding on organic matter and serving as a food source for migratory shorebirds. Researchers believe the species may be widely distributed in nearby coastal habitats.

Zhoushan's island geography and relatively isolated habitats make it an important area for biodiversity research. More than 220 species of large benthic organisms have been recorded in the city's intertidal zones, with mollusks accounting for nearly half of all identified species. This discovery further underscores the ecological value of Zhoushan's coastal wetlands.