About Georissa meghalayaensis and Acmella bensoni:
- These are two new species of cave-dwelling micro-snails.
- They were discovered deep inside the damp limestone caves of Northeast India’s Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.
- Georissa meghalayaensis was discovered at the edge of Meghalaya's Krem Puri cave entrance.
- It stands out from its closest relatives due to its striking orangish-red colour and a highly detailed, mesh-like pattern of ridges covering its tiny shell.
- In contrast, its closest known snail cousins typically sport yellowish shells with sharp, widely spaced spiral lines.
- Acmella bensoni was found clinging to walls deeper inside both the Krem Puri and Arwah caves of Meghalaya.
- This species distinguishes itself from similar snails by having a smaller, slightly transparent, whitish shell.
- It features deeply impressed grooves between the shell's spirals (whorls) and an incredibly fine, densely packed pattern of tiny ribs that make the shell appear almost smooth.
- This shiny little snail was named in honour of William H. Benson, a legendary 19th-century scientist, celebrated as the pioneer of Indian Malacology, the study of molluscs.
