Partula (gastropod)

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Partula
Partula radiolata.png
Partula radiolata
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Stylommatophora
Infraorder: Pupilloidei
Superfamily: Pupilloidea
Family: Partulidae
Genus: Partula
Férussac, 1821 [1]
Synonyms
list of synonyms:
  • Astraea Hartman, 1881
  • Bulimus (Partula)
  • Clytia Hartman, 1881
  • Echo Hartman, 1881
  • HarmoniaHartman, 1881
  • HelenaHartman, 1881
  • MariannaPilsbry, 1909
  • MatataHartman, 1881
  • NeniaHartman, 1881
  • OenoneHartman, 1881
  • Partula (Astraea)Hartman, 1881 (invalid: junior homonym of AstraeaRöding, 1798 [Gastropoda, Turbinidae])
  • Partula (Carolinella)Pilsbry, 1909
  • Partula (Clytia)Hartman, 1881 (invalid: junior homonym of ClytiaLamouroux, 1812 [Cnidaria])
  • Partula (Echo)Hartman, 1881 (invalid: junior homonym of EchoSelys, 1853 [Odonata]; Leptopartula is a replacement name)
  • Partula (Harmonia)Hartman, 1881 (invalid: junior homonym of HarmoniaMulsant, 1846 [Coleoptera]; Marianna is a replacement name)
  • Partula (Helena)Hartman, 1881 (invalid: junior homonym of HelenaRisso, 1826 [Crustacea])
  • Partula (Leptopartula)Pilsbry, 1909
  • Partula (Marianella)Pilsbry, 1909
  • Partula (Marianna)Pilsbry, 1909
  • Partula (Matata)Hartman, 1881
  • Partula (Melanesica)Pilsbry, 1909
  • Partula (Nenia)Hartman, 1881 (invalid: junior homonym of NeniaH. & A. Adams, 1855 [Gastropoda, Clausiliidae])
  • Partula (Oenone)Hartman, 1881 (invalid: junior homonym of OenoneLamarck, 1818 [Annelida])
  • Partula (Partula)A. Férussac, 1821· accepted, alternate representation
  • Partula (Pasithea)Hartman, 1881 (invalid: junior homonym of PasitheaOken, 1807 [Vermes], PasitheaLamarck, 1812 [Cnidaria] and PasitheaLea, 1833 [Gastropoda])
  • Partula (Rennellia)Clench, 1941 (junior synonym)
  • Partula (Sterope)Hartman, 1881 (invalid: junior homonym of SteropeGoodsir, 1845 [Crustacea])
  • Partula (Thakombaua)Pilsbry, 1909
  • PasitheaHartman, 1881 (junior synonym)
  • RennelliaClench, 1941 (junior synonym)
  • ScilistylusIredale, 1941
  • SteropeHartman, 1881
Black-and-white photo taken in July 1920 in Saipan, showing numerous Partula snails on the underside of a single leaf of Caladium Partula on Saipan.jpg
Black-and-white photo taken in July 1920 in Saipan, showing numerous Partula snails on the underside of a single leaf of Caladium
Partula gibba Partula gibba.png
Partula gibba
Partula langfordi Partula langfordi.png
Partula langfordi

Partula is a genus of air-breathing tropical land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Partulidae. [2] [3]

Contents

Many species of Partula are known under the general common names "Polynesian tree snail" and "Moorean viviparous tree snail". [4] Partulids are distributed across 5,000 sq mi (13,000 km2) of Pacific Ocean islands, from the Society Islands to New Guinea.[ citation needed ]

Once used as decorative items in Polynesian ceremonial wear and jewelry, these small snails (averaging about one-half to three-quarters of an inch in length) gained the attention of science when Dr. Henry Crampton (along with Yoshio Kondo) spent 50 years studying and cataloging partulids, detailing their remarkable array of morphological elements, ecological niches, and behavioral aspects that illustrate adaptive radiation. [5] [6]

Decline

The partulids of the island of Tahiti act as an example of the possible deleterious effects of attempted biological control. After an infestation of the introduced giant African land snails ( Achatina spp.), the carnivorous Florida rosy wolfsnail ( Euglandina rosea ) was introduced into Tahiti in an attempt to combat the African species.

Instead, the rosy wolfsnail hunted the nearly 76 species of Partula that were endemic to Tahiti and the nearby islands, causing all but 12 species to go extinct within a decade. Scientists were able to save 12 of these species prior to their becoming extinct.[ citation needed ]

Today, the Zoological Society of London runs the Partula Programme Consortium which maintains a captive-breeding programme in the United Kingdom, France, and the United States. [7]

As of the 2024-1 update released on June 27, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species contains 73 Partula species. Of these, 32 are listed as extinct, 10 are extinct in the wild, 17 are critically endangered, 8 are endangered, 2 are vulnerable and only 4 species are least concern. [8]

Individuals are being reintroduced to Tahiti from captive breeding programmes since 2014. [9] [10] In April 2023, over 5,000 individual snails from zoos in the United States and the United Kingdom were released on Tahiti and Mo'orea.[ citation needed ]

Species

Species within the genus Partula include: [6]

Full list

Species S P C Notes
Partula affinis CR 1YesA single population persists on Tahiti Iti but reasonable numbers exist in captivity.
Partula arguta PE 0FormerlyThe last captive individual died in 1994.
Partula assimilis CR1NoThreatened by habitat loss, though currently relatively free of predators.
Partula atilis EX 0No
Partula auraniana EN 5NoExtirpated from its type locality in Aore Island but persists in the Torres Islands.
Partula aurantia EX0FormerlyThe last captive individual died in the 1980s.
Partula auriculata EX0NoCould not be located after 1991. Old shells were found in 1994.
Partula bilineata EX0NoCould not be located after 1993.
Partula clara CR20FormerlyHas become much rarer but several populations persist.
Partula clarkei EX0FormerlyLast captive individual died in 1996.
Partula compressa PE1FormerlyOne population photographed in 2004.
Partula cootei EX0NoOutcompeted by Partula hyalina . Old shells found in 2005.
Partula cramptoni CR1NoExtirpated from Rennell Island, though survives in Bellona Island.
Partula crassilabris EX0No
Partula cuneata EX0NoCould not be located in the 1992 survey.
Partula cytherea PE1NoIsolated population on Mt. Marau confirmed in 2005.
Partula dentifera EX0MisidentifiedOnly dead shells could be found in the 1991 survey.
Partula desolata N/A 0NoFossil species.
Partula diminuta EX0NoCould not be located after 1980.
Partula dolichostoma EX0NoCould not be located after 1980.
Partula dolorosa EX0NoCould not be located after 1992.
Partula emersoni CR2NoCurrently only known from a dead subadult in one location and a live one in another.
Partula eremita EX0NoCould not be located after 1980.
Partula faba EX0FormerlyThe last captive individual died in 2016.
Partula flexuosa LC ? NoTolerant of current levels of disturbance and predators.
Partula garrettii EW 0Yes
Partula gibba EN4FormerlyPersists in Guam, Sarigan, Pagan and Saipan. Extinct on Aguiguan.
Partula grisea LC?NoAll populations appear to be tolerant of threats.
Partula guamensis EX0No2005, 2006 and 2008 surveys found only 4 old, eroded shells.
Partula hebe EW0Yes
Partula hyalina VU 1-5YesWild populations may be recovering.
Partula incrassa CR1NoAll individuals are hybrids with Partula clara .
Partula jackieburchi PE1NoMay survive on Mt. Aorai.
Partula labrusca EX0FormerlyThe last captive individual died in 2002.
Partula laevigata PE1NoOne population may survive in central Tahiti.
Partula lanceolata EN3NoEndemic to Mago, Cicia and Naiau.
Partula langfordi EX0FormerlyNot located in 1992.
Partula leefei CR1NoSurvival confirmed from a single individual.
Partula leptochila EX0NoCould not be located after 1980.
Partula levistriata EX0NoCould not be located after 1980.
Partula lirata EN11NoMany populations are unstable and inviable in the long-term.
Partula lugubris EX0NoCould not be located in the 1990s.
Partula lutaensis N/A?NoEndemic to Rota. Little is known about this species.
Partula lutea EX0NoOnly species found in Bora Bora. Could not be located in 2006 or 2017.
Partula magistri EX0NoOnly known from a single specimen.
Partula makatea N/A0NoFossil species.
Partula meyeri PE1NoOnly known from a single location. Not seen since its discovery in 2005.
Partula micans LC?NoNo major threats to this species are known.
Partula mirabilis EW0Yes
Partula mooreana EW0Yes
Partula navigatoria EW0Yes
Partula nodosa EW0Yes
Partula obesa CR2NoEndemic to Alofi and Futuna. Population declined severely in both islands.
Partula otaheitana EN5-10MisidentifiedSurvives in populations above 950m altitude and in one population on Tahiti Iti.
Partula pacifica VU6-10NoEndemic to nine islands. Eliminated from Espiritu Santo and Aore, the island of "Yatalo" remains unidentified and the other six islands have not been surveyed.
Partula pearcekellyi EX0NoSingle valley endemic. A single shell was found in 1992.
Partula planilabrum EX0NoCould not be located in 1994.
Partula producta EX0NoCould not be located after 1980.
Partula protracta EX0NoCould not be located after 1980.
Partula pyramis EN4-5NoType population is almost certainly extinct. Remaining populations have not been surveyed.
Partula radiolata EN1NoOnly one population remains. Viable but vulnerable.
Partula radiosa EN1-2NoLittle is known about this species. May already be extinct.
Partula recluziana N/A?NoLittle is known about this species.
Partula remota EX0NoCould not be located after 1980.
Partula rosea EW0Yes
Partula rufa PE1NoNot located after 1936.
Partula sagitta EX0NoCould not be located after 1990.
Partula salifana EX0NoDead shells were found in 1989.
Partula similaris LC?NoTolerant of habitat loss and free of predators.
Partula suturalis EW0Yes2/2 subspecies survive.
Partula taeniata CR2Yes3/4 subspecies survive.
Partula tohiveana EW0Yes
Partula tristis EX0MisidentifiedCould not be located after 1990.
Partula turgida EX0FormerlyLast captive individual died in 1992.
Partula umbilicata EX0NoCould not be located after 1980.
Partula vanikorensis CR1NoEndemic to Vanikoro.
Partula varia EW0Yes

Collected for ex situ conservation

The Partula that were collected for ex situ breeding include the following: [11]

Tahiti - P. affinis , P. clara , P. hyalina , P. nodosa , P. otaheitana

Moorea - P. aurantia , P. mirabilis , P. mooreana , P. suturalis , P. taeniata , P. tohiveana

Huahine - P. arguta , P. rosea , P. varia

Raiatea - P. faba , P. garrettii (P. tristis), P. hebe , P. navigatoria (P. dentifera), P. turgida

Marianas - P. gibba , P. langfordi

Partula snail with its shell removed. PartulaWithoutShell.jpg
Partula snail with its shell removed.

P. garrettii and P. navigatoria were misidentified as the species in parentheses next to them.

Surviving species

The list of surviving species are as follows: [8]

Tahiti - P. affinis , P. clara , P. hyalina , P. incrassa , P. nodosa , P. otaheitana

Moorea - P. mirabilis , P. mooreana, P. suturalis, P. taeniata, P. tohiveana

Huahine - P. rosea , P. varia

Raiatea - P. garrettii (P. tristis), P. hebe , P. meyeri , P. navigatoria (P. dentifera)

Marianas - P. gibba , P. langfordi , P. lutaensis , P. radiolata

Micronesia - P. emersoni , P. rufa

Fiji - P. leefei , P. lirata

Solomon Islands - P. cramptoni , P. micans

Papua New Guinea - P. auraniana , P. similaris

Cook Islands - P. assimilis

Cladogram

Phylogenetic analyses revealed that many of the Partula species are not monophyletic. [12] The resulting cladogram is shown below.

Partulidae
Partula

P. auraniana

P. turneri

P. lirata

Samoana
Eua

Ecology

Partula species on Tahiti were usually found on the undersides of the leaves of Caladium and plantain, although in some valleys, they were frequently found on Dracaena and turmeric. [13]

Tahitian species

Moorean species

Huahine species

Raiatean species

Mariana Islands species

Related Research Articles

<i>Partula dentifera</i> Extinct species of gastropod

Partula dentifera is an extinct species of air-breathing tropical land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Partulidae. This species was endemic to the Raiatea in the Society Islands of French Polynesia, where the last live individual was seen in 1972. It was officially declared extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in June 2024.

Partula dolorosa was a species of air-breathing tropical land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Partulidae. This species was endemic to a highland on Raiatea, French Polynesia. It is now extinct.

Partula incrassa exigua, commonly known as the Moorean viviparous tree snail, was a subspecies of air-breathing tropical land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Partulidae. This subspecies was endemic to the island of Moorea in French Polynesia. It is now extinct.

<i>Partula labrusca</i> Species of gastropod

Partula labrusca was a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the Partulidae family. This species was endemic in Raiatea, the Society Islands of French Polynesia.

Partula mirabilis, common name the Moorean viviparous tree snail, is a species of air-breathing tropical land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Partulidae. This species was endemic to the island of Moorea, French Polynesia. It is now extinct in the wild.

<i>Partula mooreana</i> Species of gastropod

Partula mooreana, common name the Moorean viviparous tree snail, is a species of air-breathing tropical land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Partulidae. This species was endemic to French Polynesia. It is now extinct in the wild.

Partula nodosa, commonly known as the Polynesian tree snail, is a species of air-breathing tropical land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Partulidae.

<i>Partula otaheitana</i> Species of gastropod

Partula otaheitana is a species of air-breathing tropical land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Partulidae. This species is endemic to the island of Tahiti, French Polynesia, where it was formerly widely found in the valleys but is now restricted to the highest altitudes.

<i>Partula rosea</i> Species of gastropod

Partula rosea is a species of air-breathing tropical land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Partulidae.

<i>Partula suturalis</i> Species of gastropod

Partula suturalis, commonly called the moorean viviparous tree snail or the sutural partula, is a species of air-breathing tropical land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Partulidae. This species was endemic to the island of Moorea, French Polynesia. It is now extinct in the wild. It was previously listed as extinct in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, but has been moved to extinct in the wild since 2009. This error was the result of changing taxonomy.

<i>Partula taeniata</i> Species of gastropod

Partula taeniata, common name the Moorean viviparous tree snail, is a species of terrestrial gastropod in the Partulidae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.

Partula navigatoria is a species of air-breathing tropical land snail in the family Partulidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Partulidae</span> Family of gastropods

Partulidae is a family of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Pupilloidea.

Moorean viviparous tree snail can refer to any one of several species of mollusc:

†Partula pearcekellyi, also known as Pearce-Kelly's tree snail, is an extinct species of arboreal gastropod in the family Partulidae which was endemic to Raiatea in the Society Islands of French Polynesia. It has been recently listed as extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in June 2024, though it most likely went extinct between 1991 and 1992.

Partula magistri was a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Partulidae.

<i>Partula taeniata nucleola</i> Subspecies of mollusc

Partula taeniata nucleola is a subspecies of Partula taeniata endemic to northwestern Moʻorea in French Polynesia. It was estimated that it would go extinct in 1986 or 1987 if no conservation actions were taken. As of 2021, it had one wild population and was being released as part of a captive-breeding program. Wild individuals from Faatoai Valley have also been genotyped.

References

This article incorporates public domain text from the reference. [13]

  1. Férussac A. É. d'A. de (June 1821). Journ. de Physique92: 460; 1821, H.N. g. et p. Moll., Tabl. Limaçons, 23.
  2. Myers, P.; Espinosa, R.; Parr, C. S.; Jones, T.; Hammond, G. S. & Dewey, T. A. (2006). The Animal Diversity Web (online). Accessed at http://animaldiversity.org.
  3. ITIS Standard Report Page: Partulidae
  4. Searching for "Partula". In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.3. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 14 September 2010.
  5. Jung, Younghun, Taehwan Lee, Burch J. B. & Diarmaid Ó Foighil. (2005) "Historical phylogeny of Tahitian Partula". Proc. Joint Conference - American Malacological Society and Western Society of Malacologists.
  6. 1 2 Gerlach, J. (2016) Icons of Evolution - Pacific island tree snails, family Partulidae. Phelsuma Press, Cambridge
  7. "Partula snail conservation | ZSL" . Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  8. 1 2 "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". 27 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  9. Kuta, Sarah (2 May 2023). "Scientists Reintroduce 5,000 Snails to French Polynesian Islands". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  10. Elizabeth Claire Alberts (28 April 2023). "'Extinct' snails return to Tahiti in largest wildlife reintroduction ever". Mongabay. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  11. "Tentacle 3" (PDF). University of Hawaii.
  12. "34". d-nb.info.
  13. 1 2 Mayer A. G. (January 1902). "Some species of Partula from Tahiti. A study in variation". Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy XXVI(2), Cambridge, U.S.A.

Further reading