Achatinella abbreviata

Achatinella abbreviata

Achatinella abbreviata is an extinct species of snail from the genus Achatinella, a group of nocturnal, live-bearing tree snails, which are endemic to the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

Description

Achatinella abbreviata reached a body length of 1.9 centimeters and a body diameter of 1.0 centimeters. The orifice was 9.5 mm long and 4.5 mm wide. The case was ovoid, slightly bulbous and rechtsgewunden. The turns were arched. The black lace was rather short and blunt. The spindle ( columella ) was coated with edges calloused and tortuous. The shell surface was glossy olive-yellow colored with a black - brown line at the seams. The underside of the last turn was dark green.

Dissemination

The occurrence of Achatinella abbreviata stretched along the crater rim at Ka'au Volcano, on the Palolo - Wailae comb, the northwestern canyon next to the Palolo - Manoa comb, over the Konahuanui comb, the eastern Nuuana comb, the Niu comb and on the Kailua- comb.

Extinction

Achatinella abbreviata was last detected in 1963. Probable causes of extinction were the excessive collecting by snail collectors who predation by pigs and rats, the clearing of forests and invasive plant species such as Clidemia hirta and Dicranopteris linearis, which ousted the lining trees from which the snails were dependent. Also, the introduced ant Pheidole megacephala, the garlic glass snail ( Oxychilus alliarius ) and the Rosy Wolf Snail ( Euglandina rosea) hunt Achatinella snails.