Achatinella vulpina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Achatinella vulpina |
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_-_Achatinellidae_-_Mollusc_shell.jpeg) |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| (unranked): |
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura clade Panpulmonata clade Eupulmonata clade Stylommatophora clade Orthurethra |
| Superfamily: |
Achatinelloidea
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| Family: |
Achatinellidae
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| Genus: | |
| Subgenus: | |
| Species: |
A. vulpina
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| Binomial name | |
| Achatinella vulpina (Férussac, 1824)
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Achatinella vulpina is a special kind of land snail that breathes air. It is a mollusk from the group called Gastropoda, which includes snails and slugs. This particular snail belongs to the family Achatinellidae.
This amazing snail is found only in Hawaii. This means it is an "endemic" species, living naturally in just one place on Earth. Sadly, Achatinella vulpina is currently listed as critically endangered. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
Contents
Meet the Achatinella vulpina Snail
The Achatinella vulpina is a fascinating creature. It is a type of tree snail, meaning it lives in trees rather than on the ground. These snails are an important part of Hawaii's unique ecosystem.
What Does a Land Snail Do?
Land snails like Achatinella vulpina play a role in their environment. They often feed on tiny fungi, algae, and decaying plant matter found on leaves and tree bark. This helps to keep the forest clean and healthy.
Shell of the Achatinella vulpina
The shell of the Achatinella vulpina is quite distinctive. It can spiral either to the right (dextral) or to the left (sinistral). This is a cool feature, as most snail shells only spiral one way!
Shell Shape and Size
The shell has an "ovate-conic" shape, which means it looks like an egg-shaped cone. It is usually glossy and can be yellow, green, olive, or chestnut brown. Often, it has bands of green or chestnut colors. The patterns on the shell can be very different from one snail to another.
The shell has about 6 and a quarter whorls. A whorl is one complete spiral turn of the shell.
How Big Is It?
This snail is not very large. The height of its shell is about 19.0 millimeters (which is less than an inch). The width of the shell is about 10.0 millimeters.
Why Is This Snail Important?
Achatinella vulpina and other Hawaiian tree snails are very important to the natural history of Hawaii. They are unique creatures that have evolved over millions of years on the islands. Their survival is a sign of a healthy forest environment.
Protecting Endangered Species
Because Achatinella vulpina is critically endangered, efforts are being made to protect it. This often involves protecting their forest homes and trying to control things that threaten them, like invasive species. Learning about these snails helps people understand why it's important to protect all living things.
This article includes text that is in the public domain.
See also
In Spanish: Achatinella vulpina para niños
