Georissa mawsmaiensis                                                         

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Context: Micro snail species discovered in Meghalaya’s Mawsmai cave.

Why it is important?

• The last time a species of the Georissa genus was discovered in India was 170 years ago in 1851.

More about Georissa mawsmaiensis:

• A micro snail species named Georissa mawsmaiensis has recently been discovered from Mawsmai, a limestone cave in Meghalaya.
• Changes made to increase the aesthetics of the cave, such as artificial lights and cemented floor and steps and High tourist influx to the cave is a major threat to the species. The Mawsmai cave is one of the major tourist attractions in Meghalaya.
• The members of the Georissa genus are widely distributed across and reported from Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.
• However, they are confined to microhabitats consisting of limestone caves or karst landscapes formed by the dissolution of limestone.
• Georissa is found in soil or subterranean habitats in lowland tropical forest as well as high altitude evergreen forests or on rock surfaces rich in calcium.

About Mawsmai caves:

• It is situated in the small village of Mawsmai, around four kilometres from Cherrapunjee (Sohra) in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya.
• The term ‘Mawsmai’ means ‘Oath Stone’ in the Khasi language.
• The Khasi people use the local term ‘Krem’ for the cave.
• Mawsmai cave is located at an altitude of 1,195 metres above sea level and is indirectly influenced by the streams of the Kynshi river originating from the East Khasi Hills.

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/micro-snail-species-discovered-in-meghalaya-s-mawsmai-cave-79789