Amastra spirizona is a species of land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the Amastridae family. [2]

Amastra spirizona
Live individual
Shell of Amastra spirizona (paralectotype at MNHN, Paris)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Stylommatophora
Family: Amastridae
Genus: Amastra
Species:
A. spirizona
Binomial name
Amastra spirizona
Quoy & Gaimard, 1825
Synonyms
  • Achatinella acuta W.J. Swainson
  • Helix spirizona Quoy & Gaimard, 1825

Subspecies

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  • Amastra spirizona chlorotica (L. Pfeiffer, 1856)
  • Amastra spirizona nigrolabris E.A. Smith, 1873
  • Amastra spirizona rudis L. Pfeiffer, 1855

Description

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The length of the shell of Amastra spirizona attains 18 mm.[3] The shell is conical in shape, opaque, and sculptured with fine ridges.[4] Within the shell is a small body with elongated eyes and a rough outer texture.[5]

Distribution and habitat

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Amastra spirizona is endemic to Hawaii.[1] It can be found in trees, specifically ekaha ferns (Asplenium nidus) and ōpuhe leaves (Touchardia sandwicensis) in the Waianae mountain range on the island of Oahu.[6]

Conservation status

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Amastra spirizona has been collected by researchers from their original range in the Waianae mountains. Precisely thirty snails were captured to stop the population from further declining in 2015.[5] This species is preyed on by animals, which includes rats, cannibal snails, and chameleons, but is not considered federally or state endangered.[6] The Snail Extinction Prevention Program (SEPP) released around 1200 snails, including the amastra spirizona, out into a predator-free enclosure that they keep well-maintained.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b Cowie, R.H. (1996). "Amastra spirizona". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T988A13100768. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T988A13100768.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  2. ^ Worldwide Mollusc Species Data Base: Amastra spirozona
  3. ^ Worldwide Mollusc Species Data Base: Amastra spirozona
  4. ^ "Amastra spirizona (Ferussac 1824) - Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  5. ^ a b Tani, Carlyn L. (2017-07-12). "A Snail's Tale: Can Rare Hawaiian Land Snails Be Saved From Extinction?". Honolulu Magazine. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  6. ^ a b "Amastra". Division of Forestry and Wildlife: Native Ecosystems Protection & Management. 2020-12-29. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  7. ^ Sischo, David R. (March 28, 2020). "The Newsletter of the IUCN/SSC Mollusc Specialist Group" (PDF).