Tag Archives: Achatinella phaeozona

Achatinella phaeozona Gulick

Gray-banded Oahu Tree Snail (Achatinella phaeozona)

The Gray-banded Oahu Tree Snail was described in 1856.

The shells reach sizes of about 2,2 cm in height; They are sinistral and scarcely perforate, oblong-ovate and solid; the apex is subacute and the spire convexly conical; the suture is marginate and moderately impressed; they are glossy white with one to six black or chestnut bands varying in width; the whorls are moderately convex; the strong central columellar fold is white with a dilated, adnate or sometimes slightly detached margin; the aperture is slightly oblique and lunately rounded; the peristome is acute and well thickened within. [1]

***

The species was originally widespread on the island, as is proven by subfossil shells that were recovered from the soil of a coconut plantation near the shore; it was last seen in 1974 in the Ka’alakei Valley near the southeastern coast of O’ahu; it is now considered extinct. [1]

*********************

References:

[1] Recovery Plan for the O’ahu Tree Snails of the genus Achatinella. U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service. Region One, Portland, Oregon. April 1993

*********************

Depiction from: ‘W. Tryon; H. A. Pilsbry; a.o.: Manual of Conchology. Second series: Pulmonata, Vol. 22, Achatinellidae 1912-1914’

(public domain)

*********************

edited: 08.06.2021