- Ned has a sinistral shell and can only mate with another snail that spins the same way.
- The campaign is being promoted by New Zealand Geographic following the discovery in Wairarapa.
- Strict biosecurity regulations prevent the introduction of candidates from abroad.
- Jeremy's case demonstrated the genetic origin and that left-handed people are extremely rare.
The world has taken notice of a gastropod with an unusual story: Ned, a garden snail with the shell that turns upside down, whose situation has sparked a unique search in New Zealand. Beyond the anecdote, there's science, public curiosity, and the real difficulty of finding a compatible partner.
In its kind, The vast majority roll the shell to the rightNed, on the other hand, is one of the few who does it on the left. This asymmetry complicates mating and turns his case into a biological and logistical challenge that has aroused sympathy across the country.
Who is Ned and how did it all begin?
Ned was discovered in Wairarapa, on the North Island of New Zealand, when nature author and illustrator Giselle Clarkson was working in her garden. Accustomed to observing snails, she noticed that this specimen was not like the others and decided to document it.
Clarkson shared comparison images with colleagues from New Zealand Geographic, making it clear that the shell's rotation was the opposite of the usual. From there, the magazine launched a nationwide campaign to find a possible match for Ned.
The name comes from the character Ned flanders from The Simpsons, known for being left-handed. Although snails' gender isn't binary like it is in humans, the choice of nickname helped explain the trait that makes Ned so special.
The inverted shell and why it makes mating difficult
In snails, the rotation of the shell is not a mere aesthetic detail: determines the arrangement of the organsThe majority are right-handed (dextral) and a very small fraction are left-handed (sinistral), which means their anatomies do not fit together during copulation.
Although snails are hermaphrodites with reproductive structures in the neck areaPhysical coordination is key. A right-handed person and a left-handed person, due to pure opposite symmetry, can't align themselves; therefore, an individual with a left-handed turn needs another partner with the same turn.
The campaign and the public's response
Since the initiative was made public, they have arrived samples of support and many photographs of snails. However, many of the images were of right-handed specimens mistaken for left-handed ones, and so far no suitable candidate has emerged.
The strict regulations of Biosecurity in New Zealand complicate any attempt to import potential partners from other countries. Therefore, the most feasible solution is to find one within the country.
Despite the slow pace of the search, interest remains undiminished. Ned seems to be taking it in stride; It is estimated to be around six months and that, like a garden snail, I could live between two and five years, which gives room for the campaign to prosper.
A famous precedent: Jeremy's case
The world of snails has already known a similar case with Jeremy, a British sinistral snail whose story broke a few years ago. Their search for a partner uncovered two potential candidates who, at first, were more interested in each other than Jeremy.
Finally, Jeremy reproduced and left dozens of descendants, all with a right-hand twist, a result that helped scientists study the inheritance of the trait. The most solid hypothesis attributes the inverted shell to a rare genetic mutation.
From farm data and observations in Europe, it is estimated that left-handedness is approximately one in every forty thousandThis exceptionality illustrates the difficulty of two compatible specimens being found in nature.
How is Ned doing and what can we expect?
As the campaign continues, Ned lives under observation in a controlled environment at home Giselle ClarksonThe author admits to frequently watching him, driven by curiosity and the desire for her unusual garden neighbor to find a mate.
A more thoughtful debate has also been opened: perhaps, for a snail, loneliness does not mean the same thing than for us. Even so, the initiative continues, with the hope that, sooner or later, another accident will appear on New Zealand soil.
Ned's story combines scientific outreach, media attention, and a quest that tests his patience. If Jeremy's precedent teaches anything, The probability is low, but not zero, and each finding provides valuable information about how this rarity arises and is transmitted.
Between biological singularity, biosecurity limitations and popular interest, Ned embodies a living case study which is progressing step by step. For now, there's no confirmed partner, but time is on their side, and their story has already contributed to a better understanding of these discreet garden inhabitants.
