The Polimitas are snails which only exist on the Cuban Island!They are natural heritage of Cuba and in danger of extinction.The Taínos,the aboriginal people of the Caribic,did alrealy adore these wonderful snails because of their unique beauty.Therefore the polimitas are protected by nature conservation and it is not allowed to destroy, sell or buy them.
Therefore - please- don´t allow anybody to offer you the shells of that endangered espiecie!. And don´t by any Polimita-necklaces! Morever you as well as the dealer risk severe controlls by the customs and high penalies.
The Polimitas have marvellous shells in all colours with black and coloured bands.As an endemic, only in few provinces of Cuba existing especie, they are abrove all endangerd by their overwhelming beauty.Some subspecies are already irrecoverable vanished and lost forever!The ammount of Polimita -shells are granatically reduced by the high demand of tourists.Please help to optain this natural heritage by not allowing the illegal trade of Polimitas.
Above that Polimitas are useful: They help the coffee-farmer becouse of their very specific diet by eating the tiny algae and fungi which affect the leaves of coffee plants and others trees.By cleaning organically the leaves and brunches of the plants they protec the plantation to keep healthy and repel infections!
The Polimitas are hermaphroditic.Each individual has got female and male reproduction organs.After the copulation the snails lay their eggs into the earth.After three weeks the young Polimitas emerge.Their shells grows within the next eight months until they get sexually mature.Only few individuals survive the dry months in winter .In February you can observe again the tiny young Polimitas.Like all snails they slide slowly and undulatory.
But Polimitas are threatened with extinction,because tourists want to buy them.From now on this is stricted forbidden by International United Nations law: They are listed on the CITES list of world-wide trade protected animals.From now on the customs authorities of all countries control the import and export.For illegal import there are high penalties, also for trading in internet!
The illegal collecting and killing of Polimitas during the harvesting of coffee in october and november each year is extremely harmful becouse it is the season of reproduction.If you destroy the Polimitas at that time they won´t survive and in a few years Polimitas will be extinted forever.And Maisí would loose one of its most important emblems and symbol of identity and mankind its most beautiful snails!