Tag Archives: Endodonta graeffei Mousson

Graeffedon graeffei (Mousson)

Graeffe’s Graeffedon Snail (Graeffedon graeffei)  

This species from the Samoan island of ‘Upolu, which is known only from a handful specimens, was described in the year 1869.  

The shells reach an average size of 0,46 to 0,59 cm in diameter.  

Graeffe’s Graeffedon Snail inhabited the leaf litter of the rainforests, where it easily felt victim to introduced rats, and more so to the likewise introduced Yellow Crazy Ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes F. Smith).  

The last specimen was collected in the year 1965.  

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References:  

[1] Alan Solem: Endodontoid land snails from Pacific Islands (Mollusca: Pulmonata: Sigmurethra). Part II, Families Punctidae and Charopidae, Zoogeography. Field Museum of Natural History Chicago, Illinois 1983 
[2] Robert H. Cowie; A. C. Robinson: The decline of native Pacific island faunas: changes in status of the land snails of Samoa through the 20th century. Biological Conservation 110: 55-65. 2003  

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Depiction from: ‘G. W. Tryon; H. A. Pilsbry; a.o.: Manual of Conchology. Second Series: Pulmonata Vol. 3, Helicidae Vol. 1. 1887’ 

(public domain)

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edited: 02.11.2020