Step into a real-life time machine! 💫 Scientists reveal that Yunnan’s Erhai Lake, formed 3.5 million years ago during Himalayan geological shifts, shelters a living fossil: the Margarya melanioides, a giant freshwater snail found nowhere else on Earth. 🌏
Nicknamed the 'ear-shaped sea' for its unique silhouette, Erhai Lake’s cold waters have preserved this prehistoric species. With its striking ringed shell and oversized frame, this snail looks straight out of a sci-fi movie 🎬—a rare evolutionary twist among freshwater mollusks.
Part of CGTN’s Journeys in Nature: Southern Yunling Mountains Series, this discovery highlights Yunnan’s role as a biodiversity hotspot. Previous episodes explored 60-million-year-old Delavay’s firs and mysterious 'winged' fruits, proving the region is Mother Nature’s ultimate playground 🌿🏞️.
