Tag Archives: Samoana

Samoana inflata (Reeve)

Infated Samoana Snail (Samoana inflata)

The Inflated Samoana Snail was described in 1842, it was endemic to the island of Tahuata in the Marquesas.

This arboreal species inhabited the native forests at elevations of about 400 to 500 m above sea level, where it was commonly found on trees. [1]

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The Inflated Samoana Snail is now considered extinct.

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References:

[1] Justin Gerlach: Icons of Evolution: Pacific Island Tree-Snails of the Family Partulidae. Phelsuma Press 2016

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Depiction from: ‘George W. Tryon; Henry A. Pilsbry; a.o.: Manual of Conchology. Second Series: Pulmonata Vol. 20, Caecilioides, Clessula and Partulidae. Index to Vols. 16-20. 1909-1910’ 

(public domain)

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edited: 04.06.2021

Samoana pilsbryi Gerlach

Pilsbry’s Samoana Snail (Samoana pilsbryi)

Pilsbry’s Samoana Snail was described in 2016, it is known from several specimens that were collected in 1923 on the island of Fatu Hiva in the Marquesas.

The species lived an arboreal life and was usually found on the leaves of puarata (Metrosideros collina (J. R. Forst. & G. Forst.) A. Gray).

The shells are: “Light brown with some streaking, sometimes a faint narrow brown peripheral band, usually with a white subsutural band caused by decortications. A few bicolorous: light brown with wide supraperipheral white band but this is due to decortication, not pigmentation. A very uniform species.” [1]

We also have some information about the appearance of the animals themselves.:

“Mantle in juveniles is blackish with white maculae, becoming white with black threads and finally fully white in adults ….” [1]

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Pilsbry’s Samoana Snail is now considered extinct.

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References:

[1] Justin Gerlach: Icons of Evolution: Pacific Island Tree-Snails of the Family Partulidae. Phelsuma Press 2016

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edited: 04.06.2021

Samoana minuta (Pfeiffer)

Minute Samoana Snail (Samoana minuta) 

The Minute Samoana Snail was described in 1857, it was endemic to the island of Fatu Hiva in the Marquesas.

The species was originally considered very abundant and widespread but was found to be restricted to the Teavapuhia Valley in 1995; it was not found subsequently and is now considered extinct. [1]
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References:

[1] Justin Gerlach: Icons of Evolution: Pacific Island Tree-Snails of the Family Partulidae. Phelsuma Press 2016

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Depiction from: ‘George W. Tryon; Henry A. Pilsbry; a.o.: Manual of Conchology. Second Series: Pulmonata Vol. 20, Caecilioides, Clessula and Partulidae. Index to Vols. 16-20. 1909-1910’ 

(public domain)

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edited: 04.06.2021

Samoana cramptoni Pilsbry & Cooke

Crampton’s Samoana Snail (Samoana cramptoni)

Crampton’s Samoana Snail was described in 1934, it was restricted to the island of ‘Eua in the Kingdom of Tonga.

The shells are: “Dextral, oblong-conic, narrowly umbilicate and rimate. … thin, translucent, glossy with fine spiral striae on the upper part of spire, fading on body whorl where only a few visible around umbilicus.” [1]

The species is now extinct due to introduced predatory species, including rats.

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References:

[1] Justin Gerlach: Icons of Evolution: Pacific Island Tree-Snails of the Family Partulidae. Phelsuma Press 2016

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edited: 04.06.2021

Samoana sp. ‘Rimatara’

Rimatara Samoana Snail (Samoana sp.)

This form is known only on the basis of subfossil material that hasn’t been described so far; nevertheless, it might very well represent a distinct species, endemic to the island of Rimatara, and now extinct. [1]

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References:

[1] 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: 04.06.2021