Bermuda Land Snails (Poecilozonites sp.)

The genus Poecilozonites contains at least 4 species of snails, all of which are endemic to Bermuda. Two of them, Poecilozonites nelsoni and Poecilozonites reinianus are extinct. The two surviving species are Poecilozonites circumfirmatus and Poecilozonites bermudensis, which are rare in Bermuda.

Lesser Bermuda Land Snail (Poecilozonites circumfirmatus)

A small population of P. circumfirmatus were sent to the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) where they have been successfully bred. You can read about the project on ZSL's website.

Poecilozonites circumfirmatus is considered Critically Endangered and is listed under the 2003 Protected Species Act.

Greater Bermuda Land Snail (Poecilozonites bermudensis)

Poecilozonites bermudensis is a slightly larger snail than the species above, reaching about the size of a Bermuda 5 cent coin.

More about Bermuda Land Snails:

• Recovery Plan for the endemic land snails of Bermuda; Poecilozonites bermudensis and Poecilozonites circumfirmatus

• Envirotalk Vol. 83 (3) Fall 2019. Bermuda’s Endemic Land Snails; 1 Million Years Old and Counting! by Mark Outerbridge.

• Poster by Dr Mark Outerbridge, Wildlife Ecologist for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - 'Rediscovery of the Greater Bermuda Land Snail'

• News article on the re-discovery of P. bermudensis: 'Extinct' snail is found in city alleyway. Royal Gazette Oct 2014

• 'Tales from the Snail Trail...Slip Sliding Away' by Robbie Smith in EnviroTalk volume 78 (3) Fall 2010.