Rare sea snail spotted for first time in 181 years

A rare species of marine wildlife has been spotted in Manx waters for the first time in 181 years.

A grooved top shell snail was indvertently caught on camera by divers studying the eel grass plant out at the Langness Marine Nature Reserve at Fort Island Gully.

The creature - which has a distinctive corkscrew shell - was last recorded by local marine biologist, Edward Forbes, in 1838.

Environment, Food & Agriculture Minister, Geoffrey Boot MHK, is calling it 'great news' for the Islands biodiversity, saying it shows marine nature reserves are successfully protecting key habitats and species.