Tag Archives: Tahiti

Libera incognata Solem

Unknown Libera Snail (Libera incognata)

This species was described in 1976; it was restricted to the island of Tahiti in the Society Islands.

The shells reach sizes of 0.68 to 0.79 cm; they are yellowish white with numerous broad wine-red flammulations; the umbilicus is contracted and forms a brood chamber by a broad expansion of the entire last whorl. [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

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edited: 17.02.2024

Mautodontha parvidens (Pease)

Small-toothed Mautodontha Snail (Mautodontha parvidens)

The Small-toothed Mautodontha Snail was described in 1861; this species is known to occur on at least three islands, Huahine, Mo’orea, and Tahiti in the Society Islands.

The shells reach sizes of about 0,28 to 0,39 cm in diameter; they are light yellowish white with broad, protractively sinuate, reddish flammulations which become faint or absent on the base of the shell. [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

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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: 13.03.2021

Peristylus cryptostylus (Rchb. f.) Ormerod

Hidden-Column Peristylus (Peristylus cryptostylus)

The Hidden-Column Peristylus was described in 1878, it was a terrestrial orchid growing in the rain forests of Tahiti in the Society Islands.

The species is now considered extinct.

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edited: 09.11.2021

Pavonia papilionacea A. J. Cavanilles

Tahitian Pavonia (Pavonia papilionacea)  

The oldest known specimen of this species was collected on the island of Tahiti, Society Islands in 1769 during Cook’s first voyage around the world, the species was subsequently collected only five more times with the last specimen having been taken around 1850.

The species was apparently more widespread in the Society Islands, as at least one specimen was found on the island of Bora Bora, this was described as a distinct species in 1981, however, was later downgraded to synonymous status. [1]

The Tahitian Pavonia disappeared at the middle of the 19th century.

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References:

[1] F. R. Fosberg; M.-H. Sachet: Pavonia (Malvaceae) in the Society Islands. Bulletin du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle 4 sér. 3, section B, Adansonia 1: 15-18. 1981

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Depiction from: ‘Sydney Parkinson: A Journal of a Voyage to the South Seas, in his Majesty’s Ship the Endeavour. London: Stanfield Parkinson 1773’  

(public domain)

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edited: 19.06.2020

Partula cytherea Cooke & Crampton

Mountain Tree-Snail (Partula cytherea)  

This species, named with another name of the Greek goddess Aphrodite, was described in 1930.  

The Mountain Tree-Snail is known only from the upper slopes of the three highest mountains on the island of Tahiti, Mt. Aorai, Mt. Marau, and Mt. Orohena.  

The species was arboreal, living on ferns and shrubs, mainly on the leaves of lower trees.  

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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: 18.10.2017

Phyllostegia tahitensis Nadeaud

Tahiti Phyllostegia (Phyllostegia tahitensis)

The Tahiti Phyllostegia is one of two species of this genus that are distributed outside the Hawaiian Islands.

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The The Tahiti Phyllostegia was described in 1873, it was apparently confined to Mt. Marau, where it grew in ravines at elevations of about 1200 m.

The species is known only from the type that was collected in 1859, it was never seen again since and is now considered extinct. [1]

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Depiction from: ‘E. Drake del Castillo: Illustrationes florae insularum Maris Pacifici. Parisiis: G. Masson 1886′

(public domain)

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References:

[1] Warren L. Wagner: Nomenclator and review of Phyllostegia (Lamiaceae). Novon 9(2): 265-279. 1999

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edited: 24.09.2019

Partula producta Pease

Faarahi Tree-Snail (Partula producta)  

This species was described in 1865.  

The species was endemic to the island of Tahiti, Society Islands, where it was very abundant at the time of its discovery and description, and inhabited several valleys, including Apirimaue, Faarahi, Faone, Papeiti, Taharua, Temarua, Tereehia, Titaviri, Vaihiria, Vairaharaha, Vaitunamea.  

The species was mainly terrestrial, living beneath decaying leaves and among stones etc..  

The shells reached sizes of about 1,8 to 2,1 cm, there was some slight geographical variation, but most specimens were light brown with darker stripes. [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: 21.10.2017

Gallirallus pacificus (Gmelin)

Tahitian Red-billed Rail (Gallirallus pacificus)

The Red-billed- or Tahitian Red-billed Rail was described in 1789; it was endemic to the island of Tahiti, Society Islands and is known only on the basis of a painting made by Georg Forster around 1777 and an associated description.

The species reached a size of only about 23 cm and was flightless.

The Tahitian name of the bird was tevea which can be translated as ‘the rail’.

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Another Tahitian name was oā, this is known from a list of so-called ata, supposed embodiments of Tahitian atua (Tahitian Gods); among whihc is also the Tahitian Red-billed Rail.:

“Black-and-white speckled rail (oā), ata of Oāhīvari (Blackness-fishing-in-mud), god of quagmire.” [1][2] 

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The Tahitian Red-billed Rail apparently disappeared shortly after the first Europeans set foot on the Society Islands; however, there appear to be sightings that are said to have taken place until 1844.

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Depiction from: ‘Lionel Walter Rothschild: Extinct birds: an attempt to unite in one volume a short account of those birds which have become extinct in historical times: that is, within the last six or seven hundred years: to which are added a few which still exist, but are on the verge of extinction. London: Hutchinson & Co., Paternoster Row, E. C. 1907’

(public domain)

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References:

[1] Teuira Henry: Ancient Tahiti. Bishop Museum Bulletins 48: 1-651. 1928
[2] Douglas L. Oliver: Ancient Tahitian Society. The University Press of Hawai’i, Honolulu 1974

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edited: 04.01.2024

Partula diminuta C. B. Adams

Small Tree-Snail (Partula diminuta)  

This species was described in 1851.  

The Small Tree-Snail was restricted to the Pirae valley in northwestern Tahiti, Society Islands, which is now largely cleared for agriculture.  

The species appears to have been last recorded in 1970, when it was already restricted to the uppermost parts of its former range. It is now 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: 21.10.2017

Dicliptera clavata (J. G. Forst.) Juss.

Clavate Dicliptera (Dicliptera clavata)  

The genus Dicliptera contains about 300 species, two of which occurred on the Society Islands in French Polynesia

One of these two species, Forster’s Dicliptera (Dicliptera forsteriana Nees) (see depiction below) is more widely distributed along the Society Islands and apparently can still be found today on the islands of Bora Bora, Huahine, Ra’iatea, and Taha’a, while it appears to be extinct on Tahiti and Mo’orea. It apparently did furthermore occur on the island of Rapa in the Austral Islands.

The second species, the Clavate Dicliptera, was restricted to the island of Tahiti and is considered globally extinct. 

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Forster’s Dicliptera (Dicliptera forsteriana)

Depiction from: ‘Sydney Parkinson: A Journal of a Voyage to the South Seas, in his Majesty’s Ship the Endeavour. London: Stanfield Parkinson 1773’  

(public domain)

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edited: 19.06.2020

Porphyrio sp. ‘Tahiti’

Tahiti ‘Goose’ (Porphyrio sp.)

There is a nearly unknown contemporaneous account from the 18th century by James Morrison, boatswain’s mate on board on the infamous ‘Bounty’ who mentiones an enigmatic bird.:

“… the mountains produce birds of different kinds unknown to us, among which are a large bird nearly the size of a goose, which is good food;  they are never observed near the sea nor in the low lands.“

This mysterious, nearly goose-sized bird very likely was a rail, perhaps from the genus Porphyrio, which is known to have produced a radiation of numerous species all over Oceania. 

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Referenzen:  

[1] J. M. Derscheid: An unknown species – the Tahitian Goose. Ibis 81: 756-760. 1939

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edited: 18.05.2019