That’s an interesting idea! I know flies don’t usually prey on land snails, so perhaps you mean a kind of parasitic relationship? I’ve never actually seen flies attacking snails in the field, but defense against other animals could be possible.

That’s great to hear! Michael Shea’s work is fantastic — I’d love to see him join Bluesky too.
I also study the evolution and taxonomy of land snails, but there are still so many mysteries to uncover.

Absolutely! Hairs can really enhance concealment — your backyard examples make a lot of sense.

That’s an excellent point — camouflage seems quite plausible, especially considering visually oriented predators like Pitta.
The possibility that debris could adhere to the bristles and enhance concealment is fascinating.

That makes sense. Some Aegista species actually have hair-like structures on their shells, so dew collection might be a possible function. I’ve also wondered whether it could help with camouflage or microclimate regulation on the shell surface.

Thank you for your interest.
The function of the bristles remains unknown. If anyone knows more, I’d love to hear your thoughts — even hypotheses are welcome.
Personally, I suspect it may relate to humidity or predator defense, but there’s no clear evidence yet.

Your research on millipedes is fascinating. While searching for land snails in Japan, I often see many millipedes. I’d be glad to share photos if you’re interested.

Thank you very much, Dr. Derek. I am also working on the taxonomy and phylogeography of Japanese land snails using genetic data.

Although minute in size, they represent remarkable taxonomic and ecological diversity.
Some species are widespread, while others may be highly localized or even undescribed.
For malacologists, such micro-snails offer valuable insight into biodiversity, biogeography, and conservation.