Partula (gastropod)
Partula radiolata
Partula is the name of a genus of snails in the family Partulidae, nocturnal, viviparous tree snails, which are common in Polynesia. The destruction of habitat and introduction of invasive species, most of the approximately 75 known species are extinct.
Features
The in adult worm usually not more than 2 cm long wound housing right or left, usually pointed egg-shaped and have a tapered thread. The bulbous body handling is higher than the thread. The case mouth is increasingly short and with teeth or waves. The snails like other snails hermaphrodites that copulate each other with their penises. The young snails are born alive. The snails live on decaying plant material and microscopic plant cover of the trees on which they live.
Dissemination
The snails live on trees in the forests of the Pacific Islands of the Society Islands to Palau. Hence the trivial name " Polynesian tree snails " comes with the but also on other snails such as the genus Achatinella are referred to in Hawaii. The investigated in Tahiti Partula species were particularly found on undersides of leaves of Caladium and banana, besides also to dragon trees and turmeric.
Endangering
The destruction of forests and the introduction of African Large land snails ( Achatina fulica ), which successfully ousted the native snail species through competition for food, are seen in connection with the decline and extinction of Partula species. To combat the snails were in 1974 predatory rosy wolf snail ( Euglandina rosea) exposed, but instead of snails ate the native species. The wolf worm, which spread from Tahiti on numerous islands has been recognized as the main cause for the destruction of Partula snails. Meanwhile, Zoological Society of London operates a program to preserve the remaining Partula species in captivity in the United Kingdom, France and the USA ( Partula Programs Consortium).
2013, according to the Red List of IUCN, the 14 remaining wild Partula species " threatened with extinction " ( critically endangered ), 11 species are " extinct in the wild " ( extinct in the wild ) and 51 died ( extinct ) and 5 species are no data available ( data deficient ).
Relevance to humans
The shells were once the Polynesians as a ceremonial jewelry. Thus, the zoologist Henry Crampton and Yoshio Kondo became aware of the worm and investigated this over a period of 50 years. Due to the numerous data on the morphological diversity, ecological niches and behavior they were able to describe a classic example of adaptive radiation.
System
The genus Partula include the following types:
- Partula affinis - extinct
- Partula approximata - extinct
- Partula arguta - extinct
- Partula atilis - extinct
- Partula aurantia - extinct
- Partula auriculata - extinct
- Partula bilineata - extinct
- Partula callifera - extinct
- Partula calypso
- Partula candida - extinct
- Partula castanea - extinct
- Partula cedista - extinct
- Partula citrina - extinct
- Partula clara
- Partula compacta - extinct
- Partula crassilabris - extinct
- Partula cuneata - extinct
- Partula cytherea - extinct
- Partula dentifera
- Partula dolichostoma - extinct
- Partula dolorosa - extinct
- Partula emersoni
- Partula eremita - extinct
- Partula exigua - extinct
- Partula faba
- Partula Filosa
- Partula formosa - extinct
- Partula fusca - extinct
- Partula garretti
- Partula gibba
- Partula guamensis
- Partula lift
- Partula hyalina
- Partula imperforata - extinct
- Partula labrusca - extinct
- Partula langfordi
- Partula leptochila - extinct
- Partula Leucothoe
- Partula levilineata - extinct
- Partula levistriata - extinct
- Partula lutea - extinct
- Partula martensiana
- Partula microstoma - extinct
- Partula mirabilis
- Partula mooreana
- Partula nodosa
- Partula otaheitana
- Partula planilabrum - extinct
- Partula producta - extinct
- Partula protea - extinct
- Partula protracta - extinct
- Partula radiata - extinct
- Partula radiolata
- Partula raiatensis - extinct
- Partula remota - extinct
- Partula robusta - extinct
- Partula rosea
- Partula rustica - extinct
- Partula sagitta - extinct
- Partula salifana - extinct
- Partula salifera - extinct
- Partula suturalis
- Partula taeniata
- Partula thalia - extinct
- Partula thetis
- Partula tohiveana
- Partula tristis
- Partula turgida - extinct
- Partula umbilicata - extinct
- Partula varia
- Partula variabilis - extinct
- Partula vittata - extinct