Riverine Tylomelania

Tylomelania is a genus belonging to the family Pachychilidae and is endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia. These snails are quite popular among aquarium hobbyists because of their diverse soft-body coloration, distinctive appearance, and cute-looking faces, which have earned them the common name “rabbit snails.” Although there has been extensive research on Tylomelania species inhabiting Sulawesi’s lakes, those living in riverine systems have received considerably less attention and may include additional undescribed species.

Expedition to the Remote Highlands of Sulawesi

In August 2026, Tapak Diversitas Hayati Nusantara (TARSIUS) team, comprising students from Hasanuddin University, explored a particularly remote valley in Rampi, Sulawesi. During the expedition, the team surprisingly discovered Tylomelania snails inhabiting a riverine system at an elevation of approximately 1,350 m above sea level.

This finding is particularly noteworthy because it is nearly twice the highest elevation previously reported for Tylomelania, which was approximately 700 m above sea level (von Rintelen et al., 2014). This observation not only extends the known distribution of Tylomelania into a remote highland region but also raises the possibility that the population found in Rampi may represent a new or undescribed species.

More broadly, this discovery highlights how poorly explored some regions of Sulawesi remain and suggests that the island’s biodiversity may still be substantially underestimated.