Achatinella

There were 41 species of Achatinella endemic to the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu, though only 13 species survive. Some species have less than 50 remaining individuals, and others have +300; many species fall in between. == Conservation status ==

All 13 species are listed under United States federal legislation as endangered. The IUCN lists a number of Achatinella species as extinct and the remainder as critically endangered. The main cause of decline has been attributed to over collection. In addition, invasive species such as Norway rats, Jackson's chameleons, and the highly predatory snail Euglandina rosea have been involved in the extinctions and declines of the native tree snails. , Honolulu, Hawaii. == Shell description ==

Achatinella species shells are diverse in patterns, colors, and shapes, but all average about in length. Most have smooth glossy, and oblong or ovate shells which show a variety of colors, including yellow, orange, red, brown, green, gray, black, and rainbow. There are three recognized subgenera within the genus Achatinella. Subgenera are distinguished according to shells characteristics only. Genus Achatinella Swainson, 1828: The dextral or sinistral shell is imperforate or minutely perforate, oblong, ovate or globose-conic; smooth or longitudinally corrugated, with only weak traces of spiral sculpture. Shell color is in spiral bands or streaks in the direction of the growth lines. The lip is simple or thickened within and sometimes slightly expanding. The columella bears a strong callous fold. Type species of the genus Achatinella is Achatinella apexfulva (Dixon). Subgenus Bulimella Pfeiffer, 1854: Shell shape is oblong-conic or ovate. The spire is obtuse, rounded or convexly-conic near the apex. The outer lip is thickened by a strong callous rib within the aperture (except in Achatinella abbreviata and Achatinella lila). Type species of the subgenus Bulimella is Achatinella byronii Newcomb. Subgenus Achatinellastrum Pfeiffer, 1854: The shell is imperforate, ovate-conic or oblong-conic and smooth. The embryonic whorls are not flattened. The outer lip is thin or only slightly thickened within the apex but not expanded. These are the most generally distributed of the Achatinella species and show a prolific area of intergrading color patterns. Type species of the subgenus Achatinellastrum is Achatinella stewartii (Green, 1827). == Ecology ==

Habitat These snails live in trees. Currently they are only found in mountainous dry to moist forests and shrublands above . Most individuals spend their entire life on just one tree. Other predators of Achatinella include the land planarian Platydemus manokwari. File:Euglandina rosea.jpg|Euglandina rosea File:Rattus rattus03.jpg|Black rat File:Starr 030526-0002 Hypochoeris radicata.jpg|Jackson's chameleon File:Platydemus manokwari.jpg|Platydemus manokwari == Hawaiian folklore ==

According to Ancient Hawaiian folklore, the kāhuli are known as the pūpū kani oe, which translates to "shell that sounds long" or the "singing shell". They are believed to be able vocalize and sing at night. Experts have attributed this association to the chirping of crickets at night when the snails are active. Native Hawaiians used the shells of the snails to create kahuli shell lei and their status as coveted souvenirs in the 19th-century may have contributed to the decline of the species. The summer palace of King Kamehameha III was called Kaniakapupu ("the singing of the land shells") because of the many snails which once inhabited the area during his lifetime. == Species ==

There are 41 species in the genus Achatinella, Subgenus Achatinella • †Achatinella apexfulva (Dixon, 1789) • †Achatinella cestus Newcomb, 1853: synonym of Achatinella apexfulva cestus Newcomb, 1854 (basionym) • Achatinella concavospira Pfeiffer, 1859 • †Achatinella decora (Férussac, 1821) • Achatinella dolium L. Pfeiffer, 1855 • Achatinella leucorraphe (Gulick, 1873): synonym of Achatinella apexfulva leucorraphe (Gulick, 1873) • †Achatinella lorata Férussac, 1824 • Achatinella mustelina Mighels, 1845 • Achatinella swiftii Newcomb, 1853: synonym of Achatinella turgida Newcomb, 1854 • †Achatinella turgida Newcomb, 1853 • †Achatinella valida Pfeiffer, 1855 • †Achatinella vittata Reeve, 1850 Subgenus Bulimella • †Achatinella abbreviata Reeve, 1850 • Achatinella bulimoides Swainson, 1828 • Achatinella byronii (Wood, 1828) • Achatinella decipiens Newcomb, 1854 • Achatinella elegans Newcomb, 1854: synonym of Achatinella bulimoides elegans Newcomb, 1854 (unaccepted > superseded combination) • Achatinella faba L. Pfeiffer, 1859 • Achatinella fuscobasis (E. A. Smith, 1873) • Achatinella lila Pilsbry, 1914 • †Achatinella pulcherrima Swainson, 1828 • Achatinella pupukanioe Pilsbry & Cooke, 1914 • Achatinella sowerbyana Pfeiffer, 1855 • †Achatinella taeniolata Pfeiffer, 1846 • †Achatinella viridans Mighels, 1845 Subgenus Achatinellastrum • †Achatinella bellula E. A. Smith, 1873 • †Achatinella buddii Newcomb, 1853 • †Achatinella casta Newcomb, 1853 • †Achatinella caesia Gulick, 1858 • Achatinella curta Newcomb, 1853 • †Achatinella dimorpha Gulick, 1858 • Achatinella fulgens Newcomb, 1853 • †Achatinella juddii Baldwin, 1895 • †Achatinella juncea Gulick, 1856 • †Achatinella lehuiensis E. A. Smith, 1873 • Achatinella livida Swainson, 1828 • †Achatinella papyracea Gulick, 1856 • †Achatinella phaeozona Gulick, 1856 • Achatinella solitaria Newcomb, 1854 • †Achatinella spaldingi Pilsbry & Cooke, 1914 • †Achatinella stewartii (Green, 1827) • †Achatinella thaanumi Pilsbry & Cooke, 1914 • †Achatinella vulpina (Férussac, 1824) == Gallery ==

Extant species File:Achatinella bulimoides.jpg|Achatinella bulimoides File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.MOL.239226 - Achatinella byronii (Wood, 1828) - Achatinellidae - Mollusc shell.jpeg|Achatinella byronii File:Achatinella concavospira, Palikea, Oahu, Hawaii. DR Sischo.jpg|Achatinella concavospira File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - ZMA.MOLL.373485 - Achatinella decipiens Newcomb, 1854 - Achatinellidae - Mollusc shell.jpeg|Achatinella decipiens File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.MOL.239093 - Achatinella fulgens Newcomb, 1853 - Achatinellidae - Mollusc shell.jpeg|Achatinella fulgens File:Achatinella fuscobasis 63974826.jpg|Achatinella fuscobasis File:Achatinella lila 2.jpg|Achatinella lila File:Achatinella livida Oahu David R. Sischo.jpg|Achatinella livida File:Achatinella mustelina.jpg|Achatinella mustelina File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.MOL.239146 - Achatinella sowerbyana Pfeiffer, 1855 - Achatinellidae - Mollusc shell.jpeg|Achatinella sowerbyana == References ==