Welcome to the Evolution MegaLab!
Did you know that thanks to a common little snail you can find in your garden, in the park or under a hedge, you can see evolution in your own back yard?
OK, so evolution is a very slow process. Life on Earth started about three-and-a-half billion years ago! It's the tiny changes accumulating over a long, long time that got us here. And you can see some of those tiny steps by joining the Evolution MegaLab.
Banded snails
It may look like banded snails are dressed-to-kill, but really they are dressed not to be killed. Banded snails are a favourite food of the song thrush and their various shell colours and patterns camouflage them against different backgrounds. But, in some places there are fewer thrushes than there used to be.
Help us find out
- Have shell colours and bands changed where there are fewer thrushes?
Shell colour also affects how sensitive a snail is to temperature.
- Have shell colours changed with our warming climate?
Learn more!
- Find out more in The science page.
- Add your own observations when you Register with us, for free.
- Find out how to take part in the Instructions page.
- Browse the Current and Historical records to look at data we already have.
- Download records to obtain a copy of the current samples.