Achatinella fulgens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Achatinella fulgens |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Achatinella
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| Species: |
fulgens
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Achatinella fulgens is a special type of air-breathing land snail. It's a small mollusc that lives on land, part of a group called Achatinella. People often call these snails Oʻahu tree snails or pupu kuahiwi in the Hawaiian language.
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About This Snail
This snail has a beautiful shell. It's long, shiny, and shaped like a cone. The shell is mostly a creamy, ivory color. But it also has colorful stripes or "belts." These stripes can be cloudy gray, a deep reddish-brown like mahogany, or even dark black like ebony.
Where It Lives
Achatinella fulgens is a very rare snail. It naturally lives only on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Specifically, it's found in the southern part of the Koʻolau Range.
Its Natural Home
In the wild, these snails live in trees. Their natural home is in guava forests found at lower elevations on Oahu. Sadly, there are very few of these snails left in the wild.
How Rare Is It?
Because it's so rare, some Achatinella fulgens snails are kept in special places. This helps protect them. As of 2014, only two of these snails were known to be living in captivity.
Why It's Important
People study Achatinella fulgens for scientific reasons. Scientists have collected these snails over the years to learn more about them. This helps us understand their species better.
Cultural Importance
These snails are very important in Hawaiian culture. Old Hawaiian stories, passed down through generations, talk about them. Historically, Hawaiians believed that these land snails could sing. This shows how special they were to the people of Hawaii.
