Aldabra Banded Snail
The tree-dwelling Aldabra Banded Snail lives only on the island of Aldabra, a large coral atoll. Very little is known about the biology of this mysterious gastropod. Climate change has caused sea levels to rise, encroaching on the snail’s habitat. Juveniles of this species require a very humid environment to develop properly. Extremely hot summers in the late 20th century decreased humidity, causing juveniles of this species to die off on a massive scale. The snail was not spotted alive from 1997 to 2013, leading to its designation as ‘extinct’ in 2007. However, seven individuals were found alive on Aldabra in 2014. One thing is for sure: climate change isn’t doing these lucky seven any favors.
Art by Gabriel Martinez