Koko Head Lyropupa Snail (Lyropupa perlonga)  

This species was described in 1871.  

The Koko Head Lyropupa Snail was endemic to the island of O’ahu, Hawaiian Islands, and was said to be very abundant and widespread as a fossil in the 19th century, but was rarely found alive.  

The shells reached sizes of about 0,24 cm in heigth and were uniformly brown.  

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The author of the species writes a bit about its geographical distribution.:  

“Very abundant in pleistocene and holocene deposits on the coastal plain of Oahu, Diamond Head eastward; Kailua; living examples from Koko Head.” [1]  

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There are at least two additional forms that were assigned as subspecies to this species: Lyropupa perlonga ssp. filocostata Cooke & Pilsbry, from Kaua’i and Ni’ihau, which most likely is a distinct species, and Lyropupa perlonga ssp. interrupta Pilsbry & Cooke. [1]  

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The Koko Head Lyropupa Snail is now considered extinct.  

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References:  

[1] George W. Tryon; Henry A. Pilsbry; a.o.: Manual of Conchology. Second Series: Vol.25, Pupillidae (Gastrocoptinae, Vertigininae) 1918-1920
[2] Patrick V. Kirch; Carl C. Christensen: Nonemarine molluscs and paleoecology at Barber’s Point, O’ahu. Prepared for Archaeological Research Center Hawaii, Inc.. Department of Anthropology; Bernice P. Bishop Museum 1-40. 1980

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edited: 22.04.2019