Tag Archives: Achatinella kauaiensis Newcomb

Amastra kauaiensis (Newcomb)

Kauai Amastra Snail (Amastra kauaiensis)

The Kauai Amastra Snail was described in 1860, as its name implies it was endemic to the island of Kaua’i, Hawaiian Islands.

The shells reached sizes of about 2,3 cm

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The American conchologist William Harper Pease, who collected the species, gives a brief description of the life animal.: 

The animal is very small in comparison with the size and thickness of the shell, a little larger than the diameter of the latter, and excessively narrow. It drags the heavy shell balanced on its back. When it crawl the head is stretched out as far as possible, the tow ends of the body solidly fixed, until the middle part contracts and draws the shell forward.

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Depiction from: ‘George W. Tryon; Henry A. Pilsbry; a.o.: Manual of Conchology. Second series: Pulmonata. Vol 21: Achatinellidae (Amastrinae). 1911′  

(public domain)

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edited: 15.06.2020