Dragon Palace Weng Rong Snail: A Rare Catch for Yilan Fishermen

Recently, Yilan fishermen caught a live “Dragon Palace Weng Rong Snail” (commonly known as Dragon Palace Shell) off the coast of Guishan Island. The National Taiwan Museum hopes to return the snail to nature as a wild species.

A fisherman named Lin from Yilan County caught the rare live clam and decided to sell it for more than 160,000 yuan. After confirming the buyer’s remittance, the clam will be transported to the fishing grounds and released tomorrow.

The National Taiwan Museum advises against keeping the snail in secret and instead follows a no-kill, tamper, and destroy policy to allow future generations to enjoy these resources.

About the Dragon Palace Weng Rong Snail

The Dragon Palace Weng Rong Snail is currently the largest species of Ongronidae. Its palace-like appearance has earned it the common name “Ryugu shellfish.” The mouth of the shell has an elongated crack that reaches half the circumference of the shell, a very ancient morphological feature that dates back to the Cambrian period.

The Dragon Palace Wengrong Shell is conical with yellow-red flame patterns on it, and its shape is as beautiful as a palace.

The mouth of the Ryugu shell has an elongated crack that reaches half the circumference of the shell.

Conservation Efforts

In the past, there have been incidents where fishermen caught Longgong Wengrong snails and tried to breed them, resulting in deaths. The Taiwan Museum emphasizes the importance of not affecting species and ecological balance.

Wild animals belong to nature, and the health and reproduction of the entire population is extremely important. Allowing Dragon Palace Wengrong snails to continue to reproduce in their natural environment is the real protection.