Marine snails in the genus Plicopurpura have sustained Mixtec communities in Oaxaca for over 1,500 years through their purple dye. The mollusks, central to Mixtec spiritual beliefs and textile traditions, are now at the center of a scientific debate that could strip them of federal protections. Mauro Habacuc Avendaño Luis, 85, represents one of the last families maintaining this ancient practice.

Decades of poaching and environmental damage have devastated snail populations, with once-common specimens now scarce. A 1988 federal protection for Plicopurpura pansa faces uncertainty as scientists suggest these may be the same species as unprotected P. columellaris. The classification dispute emerged after researchers documented physical variations and anatomical differences, but taxonomists argue these may not warrant separate species status.

The legal ambiguity creates potential loopholes for harvesting, threatening both the snails and Mixtec cultural heritage. While Mixtecs distinguish between two groups based on dye yield and shell thickness, scientific consensus remains elusive. The debate highlights how taxonomic classifications directly impact conservation efforts and Indigenous rights, with the fate of both the mollusks and ancient traditions hanging in the balance.