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New Zealand conservationists have captured the first-ever footage of a rare Powelliphanta augusta snail laying an egg from its neck. This threatened species, endemic to New Zealand, is a large carnivorous snail whose reproductive habits were previously unknown. The video was recorded at a Hokitika facility where the snails are being bred to save them from extinction caused by habitat loss from mining. The species is hermaphroditic, laying around five eggs a year after eight years of maturity, and each egg takes over a year to hatch. Conservation efforts are ongoing, with nearly 1,900 snails and 2,200 eggs currently in captivity.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.