Small Rurutu Austral Snail (Australdonta collicella)

The Small Rurutu Austral Snail was described in 2009; it is only known from subfossil specimens that were recovered from a locality near the eastern coast of Rurutu, Austral Islands.

The shells reached sizes of about 0.58 cm in diameter; they are, of course, quite worn and are creamy white, decorated with fading orange flammulations. [1]

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The island of Rurutu is now known to have once harbored at least 11 species of this genus, all of them are now extinct. [2] 

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References:  

[1] Gabrielle Zimmermann; Olivier Gargominy; Benoît Fontaine: Quatre espèces nouvelles d’Endodontidae (Mollusca, Pulmonata) éteints de Rurutu (Îles Australes, Polynésie française). Zoosystema 31(4): 791-805. 2009 
[2] Olivier Gargominy; Benoît Fontaine: A Global Overview of the Terrestrial and Freshwater Molluscs. In: Jean-Yves Meyer; Elin. M. Claridge: Biodiversity of the Austral Islands, French Polynesia. Muséum national d´Histoire naturelle, Paris. 55-91. 2014  

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edited: 18.02.2024