Jeremy (snail)
Jeremy the left-coiling snail on top of Theresa, a right-coiling snail. | |
| Species | Cornu aspersum |
|---|---|
| Breed | Sinistral |
| Sex | Hermaphrodite |
| Hatched | London, England |
| Died | 11 October 2017 |
| Owner | University of Nottingham |
| Residence | United Kingdom |
| Offspring | 56 |
| Appearance | Left-coiled |
| Named after | Jeremy Corbyn |
Jeremy was a left-coiled garden snail studied by researchers from the University of Nottingham.
The snail had a rare condition that caused its shell to coil to the left; in most snails the shell coils to the right. It was hoped that the condition would be due to a mutation, and that genes identified from this snail and its offspring would help scientists unlock genetic markers in humans and other animals. At first it was thought to be a rare genetic mutation, although later work revealed that it was likely due to an accident in early development.
Jeremy was named after the left-wing British Labour politician Jeremy Corbyn, on account of it being a "lefty" snail, but also due to Corbyn's reported love of gardening. The snail became famous worldwide after a public appeal to find other left-coiled snails for a mate. Jeremy had 56 offspring and died on 11 October 2017, aged "at least two" years.