Tiny snail found in Brunei is named after Greta Thunberg
A minuscule green-brown snail has been discovered in the wilderness of Brunei and has been named after Greta Thunberg.
The new species - Craspedotropis gretathunberga - is approximately 2mm long and 1mm wide with grey tentacles and a concave shell.
Researchers say they named the mollusc after the prominent 17-year-old climate activist to acknowledge the fact her generation will be responsible for fixing problems they did not create.
Greta Thunberg said she was 'delighted' the snail had been named after her.
' The newly described snail belongs to the so-called caenogastropods, a group of land snails known to be sensitive to drought, temperature extremes and forest degradation,' says snail expert Dr Menno Schilthuizen.
' All individuals were found very close to the research field station at the foot of a steep hill-slope, next to a river bank, while foraging at night on the green leaves of understorey plants.'
The trip of citizen scientists was based at Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre.
Citizen scientist J P Lim was the first person to find the first ever known example of Greta Thunberg's snail. He said: ' Naming this snail after Greta Thunberg is our way of acknowledging that her generation will be responsible for fixing problems that they did not create.
'And it's a promise that people from all generations will join her to help.'
This is the second invertebrate to be named in honour of the maverick environment and climate activist.
Last year, a beetle was named after her. Nelloptodes gretae – which had no name beforehand, despite being discovered 50 years ago – has no eyes, no wings, and is just 1mm long.