Partula hyalina

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	MOLLUSCA	GASTROPODA	STYLOMMATOPHORA	PARTULIDAE

Scientific Name:

Partula hyalina

Species Authority:

Broderip, 1832

Common Name/s:

English

–

Polynesian Tree Snail

Taxonomic Notes:

This species was the only multi-island, multi-arhchipelago partulid species known in French Polynesia. It is now believed to be endemic to Tahiti and was likely transported to the other islands as part of shell trade. Partula clara may be a colour morph of this white species.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable B2ab(ii,iv) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2009

Assessor/s:

Coote, T.

Reviewer/s:

Cowie, R. & Seddon, M.

Contributor/s:

Justification:
It is believed that this species is endemic to Tahiti and has been transported to six other islands (four in the Austral (Tubuai) Islands and two in the Cook Islands) by Polynesians in the past as part of a shell trade. It is the principal species that appears to have escaped the ravages of the carnivorous Euglandina rosea, continuing to survive in maybe a third of Tahiti's valleys as well as on Tubuai in the presence of E. rosea. The predator has not been introduced onto the remaining islands and P. hyalina persists well. However, The introduction of E. rosea is always a possibility and it exists in small, vulnerable populations in its presence.

History:

1996	–	Critically Endangered (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)
1996	–	Critically Endangered
1994	–	Extinct (Groombridge 1994)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Believed endemic to Tahiti but also found (likely introduced) on three islands in the Australs Archipelago and two of the Cook Islands.
Countries:	Native: French Polynesia (Society Is.) Introduced: Cook Islands (Cook Is.)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	This species is widespread on the islands where it is found, although it occurs in lower densities where the carnivorous Euglandina rosea is present.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Generally this snail is found in lowland forest in disturbed habitat not far from human habitation.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The carnivorous snail Euglandina rosea remains the principal threat to this species, although evidence suggetst that P. hyalina can continue to survive in its presence. On Tahiti the Little Fire Ant Wasmannia auropunctata may turn out to be a threat.

Major Threat(s):

The carnivorous snail Euglandina rosea remains the principal threat to this species, although evidence suggetst that P. hyalina can continue to survive in its presence. On Tahiti the Little Fire Ant Wasmannia auropunctata may turn out to be a threat.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is maintained in international breeding programme.

Conservation Actions:

This species is maintained in international breeding programme.

Citation:	Coote, T. 2009. Partula hyalina. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 May 2013.
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