Achatinella | |
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Achatinella bulimoides | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
Order: | Stylommatophora |
Family: | Achatinellidae |
Subfamily: | Achatinellinae Gulick, 1873 |
Genus: | Achatinella Swainson, 1828 |
Diversity [1] | |
41 species, | |
Synonyms | |
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Achatinella is a tropical genus of colorful land snails in the monotypic Achatinellidae subfamily Achatinellinae. [3]
Species are arboreal pulmonate gastropod mollusks with some species called Oʻahu tree snails or kāhuli in the Hawaiian language.
Achatinella species are all endemic to the island of Oahu in Hawaii, and all remaining extant species are endangered. They were once abundant and were mentioned extensively in Hawaiian folklore and songs, and their shells were used in lei and other ornaments.
Many of the species are sinistral or left-handed chirality in their spiral shell coiling, whereas most gastropod shells are dextral, with a right handed spiral.
There were 41 species [1] of Achatinella endemic to the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu, though only 13 species survive. Some species have less than 50 remaining individuals, and others have +300; many species fall in between.
All 13 species are listed under United States federal legislation as endangered. The IUCN lists a number of Achatinella species as extinct and the remainder as critically endangered. The main cause of decline has been attributed to over collection[ citation needed ]. In addition, invasive species such as Norway rats, Jackson's chameleons, and the highly predatory snail Euglandina rosea have been involved in the extinctions and declines of the native tree snails. [4]
Achatinella species shells are diverse in patterns, colors, and shapes, but all average about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) in length. Most have smooth glossy, and oblong or ovate shells which show a variety of colors, including yellow, orange, red, brown, green, gray, black, and rainbow.
There are three recognized subgenera within the genus Achatinella. [5] Subgenera are distinguished according to shells characteristics only.
Genus Achatinella Swainson, 1828: The dextral or sinistral shell is imperforate or minutely perforate, oblong, ovate or globose-conic; smooth or longitudinally corrugated, with only weak traces of spiral sculpture. Shell color is in spiral bands or streaks in the direction of the growth lines. The lip is simple or thickened within and sometimes slightly expanding. The columella bears a strong callous fold. Type species of the genus Achatinella is Achatinella apexfulva (Dixon). [5]
Subgenus Bulimella Pfeiffer, 1854: Shell shape is oblong-conic or ovate. The spire is obtuse, rounded or convexly-conic near the apex. The outer lip is thickened by a strong callous rib within the aperture (except in Achatinella abbreviata and Achatinella lila ). Type species of the subgenus Bulimella is Achatinella byronii Newcomb. [5]
Subgenus Achatinellastrum Pfeiffer, 1854: The shell is imperforate, ovate-conic or oblong-conic and smooth. The embryonic whorls are not flattened. The outer lip is thin or only slightly thickened within the apex but not expanded. These are the most generally distributed of the Achatinella species and show a prolific area of intergrading color patterns. Type species of the subgenus Achatinellastrum is Achatinella stewartii (Green, 1827). [5]
These snails live in trees. Currently they are only found in mountainous dry to moist forests and shrublands above 1,300 ft (400 m). Most individuals spend their entire life on just one tree.
These tree snails are nocturnal, and feed by grazing fungus which grows on the surface of native plant leaves.
Although these tree snails are occasionally found on introduced plants, it is unknown whether or not the fungus which grows on these plants can provide long-term support for healthy breeding populations of these snails.
In captivity Achatinella feed on fungus growing on leaves of Metrosideros polymorpha . They also feed on cornstarch, which can be spread in terraria with water and on cultures of sooty mold grown on laboratory agar. In captivity, cuttlebone is used as a source for calcium. [5]
Adult snails are hermaphroditic (having both male and female reproductive organs) and can live for many years. These are live bearing snails (give birth to live snails instead of laying eggs).
Because growth rate and fertility are very low, these snails are especially vulnerable to loss of individuals through human collection, through predation, or because of other disturbances.
The most serious threats to the survival of Oʻahu tree snails are predation by the introduced carnivorous snail Euglandina rosea , by rats ( Rattus exulans , Rattus norvegicus , Rattus rattus ), [1] and loss of habitat due to the spread of non-native vegetation into higher elevation forests.
An additional threat is Jackson's chameleon (Trioceros jacksonii) that were introduced to Hawaii in the early 1970s are a serious threat to Achatinella, because the chameleons directly prey on them and other snails species. [1] [2] Other predators of Achatinella include the land planarian Platydemus manokwari . [1]
According to Ancient Hawaiian folklore, the kāhuli are known as the pūpū kani oe, which translates to "shell that sounds long" or the "singing shell". They are believed to be able vocalize and sing at night. Experts have attributed this association to the chirping of crickets at night when the snails are active. Native Hawaiians used the shells of the snails to create kahuli shell lei and their status as coveted souvenirs in the 19th-century may have contributed to the decline of the species. The summer palace of King Kamehameha III was called Kaniakapupu ("the singing of the land shells") because of the many snails which once inhabited the area during his lifetime. [6] [7]
There are 41 species in the genus Achatinella: [5]
Achatinella apexfulva is an extinct species of colorful, tropical, arboreal pulmonate land snail in the family Achatinellidae, once present on Oahu, Hawaii. A. apexfulva is the type species of the genus Achatinella. The specific name, apexfulva, meaning "yellow-tipped", refers to the yellow tip of the snail's shell. Inspired from the taxon, the species has been given common names such as yellow-tipped Oʻahu tree snail or Hawaiian yellow-tipped tree snail. Officially, it is listed as ‘critically endangered’ by the IUCN, however, this is because its conservation status has not been updated in 28 years.
Achatinella bulimoides is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Achatinellidae. This species is endemic to Hawaii.
Achatinella byronii is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Achatinellidae. This species is endemic to Oahu, in the Hawaiian Islands.
Achatinella fuscobasis is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod in the family Achatinellidae. This species is endemic to Hawaii.
Achatinella lila is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Achatinellidae. This species is endemic to the northern Ko‘olau Mountains, Oahu.
Achatinella livida is a critically endangered species of air-breathing land snail in the family Achatinellidae. This species is endemic to Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi.
Achatinella mustelina is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Achatinellidae. This species is endemic to the Waianae Range of the island of Oahu, Hawaii.
Achatinella pulcherrima is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Achatinellidae. This species is endemic to the island of Oahu in Hawaii.
Achatinella pupukanioe is a species of land snail, a gastropod in the family Achatinellidae. It is endemic to Hawaii.
Achatinella sowerbyana is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Achatinellidae. This species is endemic to Hawaii.
Achatinella taeniolata, an O'ahu tree snail, is a species of colorful, tropical, tree-living, air-breathing land snail, an arboreal pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Achatinellidae.
Achatinella viridans is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Achatinellidae. This species is endemic to Hawaii.
Achatinella vulpina is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Achatinellidae. This species is endemic to Hawaii.
Amastra is a genus of small air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Amastridae.
Laminella is a genus of small air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Amastridae.
Newcombia is a genus of tropical tree-living air-breathing land snails, arboreal pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Achatinellidae.
Newcombia cumingi, common name Newcomb's Tree snail, is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Achatinellidae. This species is endemic to Hawaii, the United States.
Achatinellidae is a family of tropical air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Pupilloidea.
Liguus is a genus of large tropical air-breathing land snails, more specifically arboreal or tree snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Orthalicidae.
This article incorporates public domain text (a public domain work of the United States Government) from reference. [5] [8] [9] [10]