Large Gambiodonta Snail (Gambiodonta grandis)
The Large Gambiodonta Snail was described in 1976 (together with all other members of its genus), it is known from 259 specimens collected in 1934, 32 from the islet of Agakauitai and 227 from Aukena Islet, Gambier Islands.
The Large Gambiodonta Snail was the largest member of its genus known so far, the shell of the holotype reached 0,85 cm in heigth and 1,18 cm in diameter. [1]
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The whole genus apparently disappeared shortly after the arrival of the first Polynesians on the Gambier Islands.
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References:
[1] Alan Solem: Endodontoid land snails from Pacific Islands (Mollusca: Pulmonata: Sigmurethra). Part I, Family Endodontidae. Field Museum of Natural History Chicago, Illinois 1976
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edited: 19.04.2019
Tag Archives: Agakauitai
Minidonta simulata Solem & Cooke
Gambier Islands Minidonta Snail (Minidonta simulata)
This species was described in 1976.
The species was originally known from specimens that had been collected on the islands of Agakuitai, Aukena and Mangareva, Gambier Islands, but was subsequently found on Akamaru and Taravai too. [1][2]
The shells are quite large for the genus, reaching about 0,24 to 0,29 cm in diameter. [1]
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References
[1] Alan Solem: Endodontoid land snails from Pacific Islands (Mollusca: Pulmonata: Sigmurethra). Part I, Family Endodontidae. Field Museum of Natural History Chicago, Illinois 1976
[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: 05.10.2017
Gambiodonta agakauitaiana Solem & Cooke
Agakauitai Gambiodonta Snail (Gambiodonta agakauitaiana)
This species was described in 1976 based on specimens that had been collected in 1934 on the small islet of Agakauitai which lies about 300 m south of Mangareva, Gambier Islands.
The shells reached sizes of 0,39 to 0,4 cm in dimater. [1]
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The species was originally only known from the small islet of Agakauitai, but subfossil shells were discovered in 1997 on the islands of Mangareva and Taravai, the two largest of the Gambier Islands, as well. [2]
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References:
[1] Alan Solem: Endodontoid land snails from Pacific Islands (Mollusca: Pulmonata: Sigmurethra). Part I, Family Endodontidae. Field Museum of Natural History Chicago, Illinois 1976
[2] Ahmed Abdou; Philippe Bouchet: Noveaux gastéropodes Endodontidae et Punctidae (Mollusca, Pulmonata) récemment éteints de l’archipel des Gambier (Polynésie). Zoosystea 22(4): 689-707. 2000
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edited: 19.04.2019
Punctum sp. ‘Agakauitai’
Agakauitai Dot Snail (Punctum sp.)
This form is up to now only known from a single specimen, which comes from the island of Agakauitai, and which was very probably not more closely examined yet. [1]
It may, however, possibly be identical with the Mokoto Dot Snail (Punctum mokotoense Abdou & Bouchet).
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References:
[1] N. M. Howard; P. V. Kirch: Zooarchaeological analysis of faunal assemblages. In: E. Conte; P. V. Kirch: Archaeological investigations in the Mangareva Islands (Gambier Archipelago), French Polynesia. Contr. Univ. Calif. Arch. Res. Facil. 62: 106-121. 2004
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edited: 10.09.2020
Gambiodonta pilsbryi Cooke & Solem
Pilsbry’s Gambiodonta Snail (Gambiodonta pilsbryi)
This species was described in 1976 based on 88 specimens that had been collected in 1934 near the Gahutu Bay (often referred to as Ganhutu) on the island of Mangareva, Gambier Islands.
The shells reached average sizes of 0,45 to 0,53 cm in diameter. [1]
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There are also 79 specimens collected in 1934 on the islet of Aukena, 5 km southeast of Mangareva which originally were described as a distinct subspecies (Gambiodonta pilsbryi ssp. aukenensis Cooke & Solem), but this classification was later rejected. [1][2]
The species also occurred on the islet of Agakauitai, offshore Mangareva Island, where subfossil shells were recovered during field searches in 1997. [2]
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References:
[1] Alan Solem: Endodontoid land snails from Pacific Islands (Mollusca: Pulmonata: Sigmurethra). Part I, Family Endodontidae. Field Museum of Natural History Chicago, Illinois 1976
[2] Ahmed Abdou; Philippe Bouchet: Noveaux gastéropodes Endodontidae et Punctidae (Mollusca, Pulmonata) récemment éteints de l’archipel des Gambier (Polynésie). Zoosystea 22(4): 689-707. 2000
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edited: 19.04.2019