Through February and March Community Scientists all over Southern California have contributed thousands of land snail and slug photos for science.
The best snail and slug photos of SnailBlitz 2023 are here!
@ectothermist / William Mason
Best Snail Photo: Trask Shoulderband Snail (critically imperilled) by @ectothermist / William Mason
@william_hoyer
Best iNaturalist Observation for Research: Catalina Cactussnail by @william_hoyer. The Catalina Cactussnail is found on Catalina island off the coast of Los Angeles. This is a native species found nowhere else and they are critically imperilled.
2023: The Best SnailBlitz Year Ever!
SnailBlitz 2023 Stats
Community scientists braved record-breaking rain to break records across the board for this year’s SnailBlitz! See more details on iNaturalist.
- 3,208 Observations: Thousands of photos contributed by community scientists that will become data points to help researchers understand nature in our neighborhoods.
Observations in 2020: 2434 - 61 Species: of land snails and slugs have been documented in those 3,000+ observations, including 32 threatened or imperiled species.
Species in 2020: 49 - Over 668 Observers: Individuals who snailed it for science this year!
Observers in 2020: 586
Special Guests
Thank you to David Alexander of TAWA Compost Food Rescue and Chelsea Alexander of The Snail Hospital for your support in bringing SnailBlitz to Southern California in 2023!
Secret Mission
We asked how to get snails and slugs lit (under UV light) and you delivered! Congrats to iNaturalist user @chilipossum for being the first to submit an observation of a fluorescing snail!
SnailBlitz 2023 Swag
Stickers and other prizes will be mailed out shortly to photo contest winners, virtual event raffle winners, photo contest voting raffle winners and community scientists who got a row in our SnailBlitz loteria. Special thanks to Dr. Jann Vendetti (NHMLA Malacology) and David Alexander (TAWA Compost Food Rescue) for their generous contributions to this year’s snail and slug swag!
Special Thanks To:
David Alexander (TAWA Compost Food Rescue) and Chelsea Alexander (The Snail Hospital). Maiz Connolly for photography and support of The Snail Hospital: Snail Field Trip to NHMLA. NHMLA staff Liliana Hernandez, Giar-Ann Kung, and Tyler Hayden. Most importantly: all the community scientists and partners who snailed it for science in SnailBlitz 2023!
How to take a good snail or slug photo FOR SCIENCE!
Although snails and slugs are mostly nocturnal, on a rainy day you might see them boldly venturing across the sidewalk or crawling on plants and structures.
To find native species, look under:
- Decaying plants
- A decomposing tree trunk
- In and among leaf litter in oak woodland, riparian, or coastal sage scrub habitat.
- If you're outside at night with a flashlight, you might find several species.
- Clear photos of the top, sides, and bottom of the snail or slug help with identifying the species.
- Bonus Tip: It’s extra helpful if you can get a photo of the pneumostome (breathing tube opening) along the top and/or sides of the body (location depending on the species) and the foot (bottom) of the slug or snail.
- If you handle snails and slugs for photos, please be gentle and put them back where you found them. Do not lift a snail by the shell, this can harm them. Avoid touching your face and sanitize your hands after handling to prevent the possible spread of germs and parasites.
Check out past photo contest winners below
iNaturalist contributor: @sweetone80
@finatic on iNaturalist
Family Helminthoglyptidae;
Original post: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10407943
@alex_bairstow on iNaturalist
Mating Milky Slugs (Deroceras reticulatum);
Original post: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10194799
@misschiffonade on iNaturalist
Small Pointed Snail (Cochlicella barbara)l;
Original post: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10292089
iNaturalist contributor: @tomhorton
Matt Kowal
Common Garden Snail (Cornu aspersum);
Original post: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10057414
About SLIME and SnailBlitz
Snailblitz is a part of the Museum's land snail iNaturalist project called SLIME.
While SLIME adds contributors' photos of land snails and slugs in Southern California throughout the year, SnailBlitz spans two months, from February 01 to March 31, and usually coincides with the rainiest weather of the year. Because the rain brings out snails and slugs, it is an excellent time to document what species live in Southern California and where they are found.
These include rare species like the San Gabriel chestnut snail, Glyptostoma gabrielense, found in the San Gabriel Mountains and foothills, and ones that are common, like the introduced milky slug, Deroceras reticulatum, found in gardens, parks, and urban landscaping.
CONTACT US
General Inquiries
slime@nhm.org
Jann Vendetti
Twila Bratcher Chair in Malacological Research
jvendett@nhm.org