Hotu Matua’s Snail (Hotumatua anakenana)   

This tiny snail species (shell height ca. 0,42 cm) was described in 2009 based on subfossil shells that were found during excavations at Anakena on the north coast of Rapa Nui.  

Hotu Matua’s Snail disappeared after the complete destruction of the island’s indigenous vegetation and accompanied the loss of the microhabitats it inhabited.  

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The species was named after Hotu Matua, the mythical ancestor of the Rapa Nui people, the Polynesian inhabitans of Easter Island, as well as for Anakena Bay, the place where Hotu Matua is said to have first landed. [1]  

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The material that was collected included three additional specimens that are referable to the genus Hotumatua, but differ in some ways and are certainly not conspecific with the species discussed here. These shells are either intraspecific variations or distinct species, but more material is needed to determine either of these assumptions. [2]  

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Another tiny Achatinellid snail that was known from the island based on subfossil shells, the Variable Pacificella Snail (Pacificella variabilis Odhner) was recently rediscovered on Easter Island, it is, however, a Polynesian introduction and not native to the island. [2][3]  

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References:  

[1] John Flenley; Paul G. Bahn: The Enigmas of Easter Island. Oxford University Press (Oxford, New York) 2003 
[2] Patrick V. Kirch; Carl C. Christensen; David W. Steadman: Subfossil Land Snails from Easter Island, Including Hotumatua anakenana, New Genus and Species (Pulmonata: Achatinellidae). Pacific Science, 63: 105–122. 2009 
[3] Juan Francisco Araya; Juan Antonio Aliagoa; Darko D. Cotoras: Rediscovery of Pacificella variabilis (Gastropoda: Achatinellidae) on Easter Island. Pacific Science 72(4): 1-13. 2017  

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edited: 11.12.2018