TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Researchers have made a significant discovery in northern Taiwan, unearthing five species of freshwater mollusks from the early Pleistocene epoch. Published in the journal Geodiversitas on Thursday (Nov. 6) Central European time, these findings confirm that the ancestors of some extant freshwater snails inhabited Taiwan over a million years ago, shedding light on the region's ancient ecosystems.
Academia Sinica (中央研究院) and National Taiwan University (台灣大學) led the study, revealing biogeographic links between these snails and species across East Asia. Chien-Hsiang Lin (林千翔) from Academia Sinica, one of the study's authors, highlighted the significance of these fossils, calling them the earliest known freshwater fossil organisms in Taiwan. The fossils also provide the world's second evidence of juvenile snail shells preserved within a mother snail's body.
Lin noted that these fossils reveal ancient snails' live birth and nurturing behaviors, as well as suggesting the presence of stable lake or river ecosystems in northern Taiwan during the Pleistocene. By comparing fossil groups from Taiwan, East Asia, and Japan, researchers confirmed that the Taiwan Strait land bridge served as a crucial migration route for freshwater species during the glacial period.
The study emphasizes the critical role of the East Asian land bridge in species dispersal and evolution. Researchers urge the public to cherish and protect freshwater ecosystems, which face threats from human activities and invasive species. With these findings, scientists aim to deepen the understanding of Taiwan's prehistoric biodiversity and its connections to the broader region.
