Search for: All records

Surveys of snails from New Guinea and surrounding islands provide new distributional and ecological data for Truncatellidae from the Papuan Region. We present an annotated checklist of all Papuan Truncatellidae and the first identification key for the terrestrial genus Taheitia H. and A. Adams, 1863. Unlike widespread marine and estuarine species of Truncatella, the Papuan Taheitia usually have single island ranges and are restricted to forested limestone habitats. New anatomical data suggests that many earlier reports of Taheitia with multi-island distributions appear to be the result of confusion between superficially similar species. Eight new Taheitia species are described: T. biaka sp. nov. from Biak, T. bifurca sp. nov. from Manus,T. gebeensis sp. nov. from Gebe, T. gigantea sp. nov. from Waigeo, T. jodiae sp. nov. from New Britain, T. longpela sp. nov. from New Britain, T. malagan sp. nov. from New Ireland, and T. telnovi sp. nov. from Misool. 

the Endodontidae are land snails endemic to Pacific islands, and the type genus Endodonta and its 11 species are endemic to the Hawaiian Archipelago. most members of the family, because of their ground dwelling habits, are vulnerable to introduced predators and most of the species in Hawaii are already extinct. Fossil specimens have been used to describe extinct species, but no living Endodonta species have been described in more than 100 years. Over the last 15 years, the most comprehensive search for land snails in Hawaii has been carried out, with more than 1000 sites surveyed to date. the only known living Endodonta species is from the island of Nihoa, discovered in 1923, but remaining undescribed until now. Here we finally give what we think is the last Endodonta species a name and describe it using an integrative taxonomic approach. In describing this last Endodonta species, our hope is to inspire increased awareness and appreciation that facilitates and motivates conservation for this species and all the other undiscovered and unnamed species threatened with extinction. unless protection of this species is implemented, it may be extinct within the next decade and we will lose the last of a lineage that existed for millions of years, and the stories it could tell. 

the Endodontidae are land snails endemic to Pacific islands, and the type genus Endodonta and its 11 species are endemic to the Hawaiian Archipelago. most members of the family, because of their ground dwelling habits, are vulnerable to introduced predators and most of the species in Hawaii are already extinct. Fossil specimens have been used to describe extinct species, but no living Endodonta species have been described in more than 100 years. Over the last 15 years, the most comprehensive search for land snails in Hawaii has been carried out, with more than 1000 sites surveyed to date. the only known living Endodonta species is from the island of Nihoa, discovered in 1923, but remaining undescribed until now. Here we finally give what we think is the last Endodonta species a name and describe it using an integrative taxonomic approach. In describing this last Endodonta species, our hope is to inspire increased awareness and appreciation that facilitates and motivates conservation for this species and all the other undiscovered and unnamed species threatened with extinction. unless protection of this species is implemented, it may be extinct within the next decade and we will lose the last of a lineage that existed for millions of years, and the stories it could tell. 

the Endodontidae are land snails endemic to Pacific islands, and the type genus Endodonta and its 11 species are endemic to the Hawaiian Archipelago. most members of the family, because of their ground dwelling habits, are vulnerable to introduced predators and most of the species in Hawaii are already extinct. Fossil specimens have been used to describe extinct species, but no living Endodonta species have been described in more than 100 years. Over the last 15 years, the most comprehensive search for land snails in Hawaii has been carried out, with more than 1000 sites surveyed to date. the only known living Endodonta species is from the island of Nihoa, discovered in 1923, but remaining undescribed until now. Here we finally give what we think is the last Endodonta species a name and describe it using an integrative taxonomic approach. In describing this last Endodonta species, our hope is to inspire increased awareness and appreciation that facilitates and motivates conservation for this species and all the other undiscovered and unnamed species threatened with extinction. unless protection of this species is implemented, it may be extinct within the next decade and we will lose the last of a lineage that existed for millions of years, and the stories it could tell.