Achatinella fulgens

Achatinella fulgens is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc within the Achatinella genus of the family Achatinellidae.[3] The species is one of a collection of snail species commonly referred to as Oʻahu tree snails or pupu kuahiwi in the Hawaiian language.[3]

Achatinella fulgens
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Order: Stylommatophora
Family: Achatinellidae
Genus: Achatinella
Subgenus: Achatinellastrum
Species:
A. fulgens
Binomial name
Achatinella fulgens
Newcomb, 1853

Description

The snail is described as having a long and glossy cone-shaped shell[4] that is ivory-colored.[5] The ivory-colored shell is also described as featuring belts of various colors, including "cloudy-gray, mahogany or ebony".[5]

Distribution and habitat

This specific species of Achatinella is endemic to the southern Koʻolau Range of Oahu.[6] However, there are only few known instances of the species, some of which exist in captivity.[5] As of 2014, the total number of captive Achatinella fulgens was 2.[7] The species is arboreal in the wild, as its natural habitat lies within Oahu's guava forests at lower elevations.[6]

Human use and cultural significance

Achatinella fulgens is used by humans mainly for scientific purposes, as specimens of the species have been collected throughout the years for study.[3] Achatinella species are of major significance within Hawaiian culture, as chronicled within Hawaiian oral tradition.[5] Historically, these land snails have been said by the Hawaiians to possess the ability to sing.[5]

References
  1. Hadfield, M.; Hadway, L. (1996). "Achatinella fulgens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T182A13046122. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T182A13046122.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  4. Zoological Society of London.; London, Zoological Society of; London, Zoological Society of (1853). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. London: Academic Press, [etc.]
  5. Wang, Michael (25 August 2020). "Achatinella fulgens | The Living Archive". Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  6. "Achatinella". Division of Forestry and Wildlife: Native Ecosystems Protection & Management. 2020-12-29. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  7. Price, Melissa R.; Sischo, David; Pascua, Mark-Anthony; Hadfield, Michael G. (2015-11-12). "Demographic and genetic factors in the recovery or demise of ex situ populations following a severe bottleneck in fifteen species of Hawaiian tree snails". PeerJ. 3: e1406. doi:10.7717/peerj.1406. ISSN 2167-8359. PMC 4647602. PMID 26587358.
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