May 14th, 2017 at 1:59PM
why-animals-do-the-thing: “mxmachina: “ natureisthegreatestartist: “These remarkable shells look as if someone painted them, right? But they are natural. They belong to Cuban land snails (Polymita picta). ” I love these! The outdoor market by my...

why-animals-do-the-thing:

mxmachina:

natureisthegreatestartist:

These remarkable shells look as if someone painted them, right? But they are natural. They belong to Cuban land snails (Polymita picta).

I love these! The outdoor market by my grandma’s house sold them to tourists

It’s legit. However, demand for the pretty shells for jewelry and other trinkets has actually made the species endangered and it’s illegal to export them from Cuba except as part of a scientific endeavor. We also still have no idea why their shells have evolved to be so brightly colored. 

(via why-animals-do-the-thing)

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1,680 notes Source: cubaexplorer.com #i want... alive ones
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