Amazing nature has amazing creatures. What is more amazing is that same animal yet their characters, and habitats different. It is not just small or big animal but in both the species there are thousands of sub species which are varied in their character and habitat.
Among such species there is one creature though it has many species this particular species found in only one specific area. Infact that is the largest species among its family. It is fire snail.
Platymma tweediei, often called the (Malaysian) fire snail, is the largest land snail in Peninsular Malaysia, living exclusively in the mountainous forests there. It is the only species in the genus Platymma. It is characterised by its black shell and orange to bright red foot.
The fire snail, also known by a host of other names, is a large land-based snail that originates from Malaysia. In fact, it is the largest of all land snail species found within Peninsular Malaysia, and one of the rarest. Fire snails are large land snails that are almost completely black in colour, with the exception of a bright red or orange underbelly. The underbelly is known as the ‘foot’ of a snail. With the bright red and orange coloration, it has given the name Fire snail. This beautiful gastropod can be found in one very specific – and very humid part of the world, the thick, high-altitude forests of Malaysia.
These snails grow in a specific, remote, and rugged habitat in Malaysia. In the ‘wild’, this snail lives only in a small, 100 km radius forest of Malaysia. These snails are thought to eat algae and plants found in the forests of Malaysia, much like other local, native gastropods.
The black shell of Platymma tweediei typically reaches 2.5 inches in diameter.The lifespan of this snail is often quite short in captivity. They require such specific conditions to survive. People collect these slimy beasts because they’re rare, beautiful, and large. They are extremely hard to care for. This particular snail can’t just be left on a tree or in a fake environment inside a glass case.
Although not officially endangered because of its unique colour the Fire Snail is threatened by a combination of habitat loss and also poachers. The vivid colours make the snail an attractive pet for collectors.
Originally, Platymma tweediei was found in the Cameron Highlands area of Pahang, but has since been found near the Temengor Forest Reserve and the Pergau River in Kelantan. To date, it cannot be ascertained whether they exist in isolation or their habitat covers the mountainous areas of the northern Peninsula in general.