Here are some facts that we found out about these bad boys:
1. Fire snails can be discovered mostly in Malaysia and are the largest endemic snails in the country.
First discovered in Telom Valley, Cameron Highlands, in 1938. Since then, however, it has also been spotted in Temenggor in Perak and Kelantan – but never anywhere else.
Described as Platymma tweediei, the mollusk is also described as 'fire snail' because of its bright red foot.
It has a distinctive black shell that is perfectly contrasted by TBH with its red color and adds to its gangster vibe. According to OddityCentral, its shell can be up to 7 cm in diameter.
2. Fire snails live within a 100 km radius of Cameron Highlands.
It likes cool yet humid air, which explains why Tanah Rata survives compared to places in Europe.
3. Like most snails, fire snails feed on plants, moss, and fungi
4. Fire snails are seen as valuable items among exotic pet keepers, especially in Germany, Russia, the Czech Republic, and Malaysia itself.
Forums say that the snail has become popular with snail terrarium hobbyists due to its large size and bright red color.
However, it is often said that they are difficult to breed in captivity and are often unable to survive for a very long time when brought out of their natural habitat. This ensures that the collectors will always be able to find new ones.
Deforestation in Malaysia is another reason why fire snails are on the verge of extinction. According to Foon's 2014 report, Malaysia lost 23 percent of its cloud forests to tourism and commercial logging, including those in Cameron Highlands.
Although these are magnificent animals, they are generally best left in their natural environment.
Author: Shobana Manokaran
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