Saint Helena Pupa Snail (Pupa obliquicostulata)  

The species is known from Sugarloaf Quarry on the island of Saint Helena, Southern Atlantic Ocean, the shells are only about 0,2 cm in height.  

The species is extinct.  

This tiny snail was already extinct for a long time, when it was described in the year 1892 on the basis of empty shells.  

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Another species from the Whorl Snail family (Vertigidae), also coming from the island of Saint Helena, Turton’s Pupa Snail (Nesopupa turtoni (Smith)), was described at the same time and also only on the basis of empty shells (as Pupa turtoni Smith).  It was considered extinct from the outset too, but was rediscovered alive in the year 2003.  

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edited: 06.09.2014