The magnificent ramshorn, a species of freshwater snail native to North Carolina, is going home for the first time in two decades.

The snails are endemic to the southeast corner of North Carolina, meaning they're not found anywhere else in the world except the Lower Cape Fear River Basin. But they've only survived in captivity since the early 2000s, according to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. 

What You Need To Know

  •  The magnificent ramshorn is a freshwater snail that has not been documented in the wild since 2004

  •  The snail species has survived in captivity

  •  State officials released 2,000 snails into a pond in Brunswick County Thursday as part of an effort to reintroduce the species

  • The magnificent ramshorn is endemic to southeastern North Carolina and is not found anywhere else in the world

“They are a unique part of North Carolina’s natural history heritage. The original wild populations died out from degradation of natural habitats and poor water quality,” said Christian Waters, with the Wildlife Resources Commission.

“It has been a labor of dedication, thoughtful planning, partnerships and support from our commissioners to make this extremely significant conservation win occur,” he said. 

On Thursday, the Wildlife Resources Commission took 2,000 magnificent ramshorns back to a pond on game land in Brunswick County. They followed a much smaller batch that conservationists released into the pond in October to test the waters. 

“We are excited about the promising early results, representing a significant step toward species recovery,” said Emilia Omerberg, an aquatic snail biologist with the state. “Initial monitoring indicates the snails have survived and reproduced in the pond, including the first wild hatches since the early 2000s.” 

The last time a magnificent ramshorn was documented in the wild was 2004, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The snail is brown with a maroon body and leopard-like spots on its shell. The shell is coiled, growing in the shape of a ram's horn. It grows to about the size and weight of a U.S. one-dollar coin, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service.

The species was listed as endangered earlier this year. 

The snails were bred at the Conservation Aquaculture Center in Marion, North Carolina, and taken from the mountains east to their traditional home near the coast. 

The snails are one of 21 species that the Wildlife Resources Commission is working to restore in the wild, including species of native fish, mussels and snails.