Ned, a common garden snail with an uncommon problem, is struggling to find love. His shell coils to the left instead of the right, making him one in 40,000 snails whose sex organs don’t align with the rest of their species. Without another “lefty” partner, Ned faces a lifetime of celibacy.
The young snail was discovered in August by author and illustrator Giselle Clarkson while she was weeding her vegetable patch in Wairarapa. Fascinated, she shared a photo with colleagues at New Zealand Geographic, which then launched a nationwide campaign to find Ned a suitable mate.
Nicknamed after “The Simpsons” character Ned Flanders, Ned’s quest has so far attracted encouragement and media attention, but no genuine partners. New Zealand’s strict biosecurity rules also make overseas matches unlikely.
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Other rare left-coiled snails have found partners through public campaigns before, including Britain’s Jeremy, whose love life became a scientific curiosity before his death in 2017. Researchers estimate only 1 in 40,000 snails share Ned’s rare trait, caused by a genetic mutation.
For now, Ned lives in a tank in Clarkson’s home, where she keeps a close watch. “I have never felt this stressed about the welfare of a common garden snail before,” she said.
Source: Agency