The September 1998 issue of American Conchologist has an interesting and
even inspiring article, "The rediscovery of a lost land shell species?", by
Richard L. Goldberg. This species, Asperitas stuartiae (Sowerby, 1845), was
lost from 1886 and only rediscovered recently on the island of Sulawesi,
Indonesia.
 
There are many examples of molluscan species whose locality was lost and
rediscovered later. And other cases where the species was feared to be
extinct, but proved to be living in some unobvious corner. This is
fascinating.
 
I'd like to hear from people who have rediscovered lost species, or who
have stories to tell about others who did so. Do lost species simply turn
up by chance, or as a pleasant surprise during regional surveys, or as a
result of deliberate searching? What are the best strategies for
rediscovering a lost species?
 
Andrew K. Rindsberg
Geological Survey of Alabama