CR

Dragon Snail

Dracogyra subfusca

Unknown

Overview

The Dragon Snail (Dracogyra subfusca) is a distinctive terrestrial gastropod characterized by its elongated, spiral shell with prominent ridges that create a dragon-scale appearance, typically measuring 15-20mm in length with a muted brown coloration. This specialized mollusk plays a crucial role in its ecosystem as a decomposer, breaking down leaf litter and organic matter while serving as prey for various invertebrate predators and small vertebrates.

The Dragon Snail (Dracogyra subfusca) is critically endangered due to its extremely limited range in the Western Ghats of India, where it faces severe habitat loss from deforestation, agricultural expansion, and human development. The species' specialized habitat requirements and small population size make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes and local extinctions.

Threat summary

Habitat

Dragon Snails inhabit the moist understory of temperate deciduous forests, particularly favoring areas with dense leaf litter beneath oak and maple canopies where humidity levels remain consistently high. They are typically found in microhabitats around rotting logs, moss-covered rocks, and areas where seasonal streams create additional moisture gradients.

MARINE· major

Frequently asked questions

Why is Dragon Snail classified as Critically Endangered?
Dragon Snail is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Dragon Snail (Dracogyra subfusca) is critically endangered due to its extremely limited range in the Western Ghats of India, where it faces severe habitat loss from deforestation, agricultural expansion, and human development. The species' specialized habitat requirements and small population size make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes and local extinctions.
Where does Dragon Snail live?
Dragon Snail occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Dragon Snail?
The main threats to Dragon Snail are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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