Emerald green snail

Last updated

Emerald green snail
PapustylaPulcherrima1.jpg
Apertural view of a shell of Papustyla pulcherrima
CITES Appendix II (CITES)
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Stylommatophora
Family: Camaenidae
Genus: Papustyla
Species:
P. pulcherrima
Binomial name
Papustyla pulcherrima
Rensch, 1931
Synonyms

Papuina pulcherrima

The emerald green snail, green tree snail, or Manus green tree snail, scientific name Papustyla pulcherrima, sometimes listed as Papuina pulcherrima, is a species of large, air-breathing tree snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Camaenidae. [2]

Contents

The shells of this species were in demand for making jewelry, and were popular with shell collectors and, partly as a result of this, the species is now near being threatened.

Distribution and habitat

P. pulcherrima is endemic to Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. This snail lives in trees, and inhabits rain forest areas up to 112 m (367 ft) above sea level.

Description

The shell of this species is a vivid green color, which is unusual in snails. The green color is however not within the solid, calcium carbonate part of the shell but instead it is a very thin protein layer known as the periostracum. Under the periostracum the shell is yellow.

Endangered

Overharvesting of the species for commercial purposes led to a decline in the population of this snail. Logging of the rain forest where this species lives is also a serious threat to its survival.

The snail and its shell are protected under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) [3] and the species is listed in the IUCN Red List as near threatened as of 2015. [1]

Papustyla pulcherrima is the only foreign gastropod species that is listed as Federally Endangered in the United States since 2 June 1970. [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Achatinella</i> Genus of tree snails

Achatinella is a tropical genus of colorful land snails in the monotypic Achatinellidae subfamily Achatinellinae. Species are arboreal pulmonate gastropod mollusks with some species called Oʻahu tree snails or kāhuli in the Hawaiian language.

Kanab ambersnail Subspecies of gastropod

The Kanab ambersnail, scientific name Oxyloma haydeni kanabense or Oxyloma kanabense, is a critically endangered subspecies or species of small, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Succineidae, the amber snails. The common name of the amber snails is based on the shell, which is translucent and when empty usually resembles the color of amber.

<i>Achatinella lila</i> Species of land snail

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.

<i>Achatinella pulcherrima</i> Species of gastropod

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.

<i>Achatinella viridans</i> Species of gastropod

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.

<i>Achatinella vulpina</i> Species of gastropod

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.

The lacy elimia also known as the lacey elimia, scientific name Elimia crenatella, is a species of freshwater snail with a gill and an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Pleuroceridae.

Plicate rocksnail Species of gastropod

The plicate rocksnail, scientific name Leptoxis plicata, is a species of freshwater snail with a gill and an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Pleuroceridae.

Cylindrical lioplax Species of gastropod

The cylindrical lioplax, scientific name Lioplax cyclostomaformis, is a species of freshwater snail with gills and an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Viviparidae.

<i>Papustyla</i> Genus of gastropods

Papustyla is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Hadrinae of the family Camaenidae.

Tree snail is a common name that is applied to various kinds of tropical air-breathing land snails, pulmonate gastropod mollusks that have shells, and that live in trees, in other words, are exclusively arboreal in habitat.

The flat-spired three-toothed snail —also known as the Cheat three-toothed snail after the Cheat River in West Virginia—is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Polygyridae.

<i>Tulotoma</i> Genus of gastropods

Tulotoma magnifica, common name the Alabama live-bearing snail or tulotoma, is a species of large freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Viviparidae.

Utah roundmouth snail Species of gastropod

The Utah roundmouth snail, also known as the Utah valvata or desert valvata, scientific name Valvata utahensis, is a species of freshwater snail with a gill and an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusc in the family Valvatidae, the valve snails.

Camaenidae Family of gastropods

Camaenidae is a family of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Helicoidea, the typical snails and their allies. This is one of the most diverse families in the clade Stylommatophora.

George Alan Solem, known professionally as Alan Solem, was an American malacologist, a biologist who studied mollusks.

<i>Calocochlea pulcherrima</i> Species of gastropod

Calocochlea pulcherrima is a species of large air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Camaenidae.

References

  1. 1 2 Whitmore, N.; Arihafa, A.; Takendu, W.; Lamaris, J. (2020). "Papustyla pulcherrima". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T16033A176841328. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T16033A176841328.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Papustyla pulcherrima (I. Rensch, 1931). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1301562 on 2021-06-08
  3. CITES species database Archived 2013-07-20 at archive.today . Accessed 20 July 2013
  4. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Last updated 5 January 2010). Species Profile for Manus Island Tree snail (Papustyla pulcherrima)." U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service website. Accessed 6 January 2010.