Pilsbry’s Carelia Snail (Carelia pilsbryi ssp. pilsbryi)
Pilsbry’s Carelia Snail was described in 1909 based on subfossil specimens.
E. R. Sykes, the author of this species already mentioned:
“I have only seen a single specimen of C. Pilsbryi, and the species is, I should think, an extinct one, like some others of the group.” [1]
***
The species formerly inhabited a small area from the Kalihiwai stream to a streamlet near the eastern beach of Kalihikai at the northern shore of Kaua’i, Hawaiian Islands.
The shells reached lengths of averagely up to 6,5 cm, some up to 8 cm.
***
Pilsby’s Carelia Snail apparently inhabited lowland regions, and thus was one of the first species that felt victim to the Polynesian Rats (Rattus exulans (Peale)), which had been introduced by the Polynesian settlers.
*********************
References:
[1] E. R. Sykes: Carelia pilsbry, n. sp., from the Hawaiian Islands. Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London 8: 204 1908-1909
[2] C. Montague Cooke Jr.: The land snail genus Carelia. Bishop Museum Bulletin 85: 1-97. 1931
*********************
(public domain)
*********************
edited: 01.04.2018