Prisoners of the sands
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Roman Clausiliidae, prisoner of the arenas since 2000 years.

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NIMES, FRANCE Roman Clausiliidae, prisoner of the arenas since 2000 years.
The Roman clausilie (leucostigma candidescens) is a snail living only in the Apennines near Rome and in the arenas of Nimes. It remained hidden in the arenas of Nimes for 2000 years.
Since 1903 and despite extensive research, this species has never been found elsewhere in France. The Roman clausilie exists nowhere else in the world.
Maybe it is arrived glued to amphorae, imported by the Romans themselves, to Nimes when building arenas or following trade.
Contrary to its importers, the Roman clausilie is not an invasive species: For nearly 20 centuries, it was confined to the arenas of Nimes without ever colonize other sites in France
"There are not many, probably more than a hundred," said Vincent PRIE, Biotope agency.
Today, maintenance is carried out arenas using chemical herbicides. Aware of the heritage value of this snail witnessed to the construction of arenas, the site's technical leadership has chosen to preserve the areas where the snail lives by making locally hand weeding and preserving some of the plants to the old walls for maintain its population.

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Bruno Vigneron/Maya-Press
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4288x2848 / 7.5MB
Keywords
NIMES, FRANCE Roman Clausiliidae, prisoner of the arenas since 2000 years.<br /> The Roman clausilie (leucostigma candidescens) is a snail living only in the Apennines near Rome and in the arenas of Nimes. It remained hidden in the arenas of Nimes for 2000 years.<br /> Since 1903 and despite extensive research, this species has never been found elsewhere in France. The Roman clausilie exists nowhere else in the world.<br /> Maybe it is arrived glued to amphorae, imported by the Romans themselves, to Nimes when building arenas or following trade.<br /> Contrary to its importers, the Roman clausilie is not an invasive species: For nearly 20 centuries, it was confined to the arenas of Nimes without ever colonize other sites in France<br /> "There are not many, probably more than a hundred," said Vincent PRIE, Biotope agency.<br /> Today, maintenance is carried out arenas using chemical herbicides. Aware of the heritage value of this snail witnessed to the construction of arenas, the site's technical leadership has chosen to preserve the areas where the snail lives by making locally hand weeding and preserving some of the plants to the old walls for maintain its population.