George (snail) facts for kids

George (born around 2004 – died January 1, 2019) was a special snail. He was the very last known individual of his kind, the Achatinella apexfulva species. This means he was an endling, the final member of a species before it becomes extinct.

What Was George's Species Like?

George belonged to a species of snail called Achatinella apexfulva. These snails were only found in the forests of Oahu, Hawaii. They were unique to that area, meaning they didn't naturally live anywhere else in the world.

Why Did These Snails Disappear?

The number of Achatinella apexfulva snails dropped very quickly. This happened because of another snail called the rosy wolfsnail. The rosy wolfsnail was brought to Hawaii in the 1950s. It was meant to control farm pests, but it started eating the native Hawaiian snails instead. Because of this, George's species was listed as endangered in 1981.

George's Life Story

In 1997, scientists gathered all the remaining A. apexfulva snails they could find. They tried to help them reproduce in a safe place. Many of the baby snails didn't survive. But one special snail was born in a lab at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. This snail was named George.

How George Got His Name

George was named after Lonesome George. Lonesome George was a famous tortoise from the Galápagos Islands. He was also the last of his kind. Our snail George's parents were found in a few trees near the Poamoho trail in Oahu. When George was born, about 20 A. apexfulva snails were still alive in captivity. But by the mid-2000s, George was the only one left.

What Did George Look Like?

George was a small snail, about the size of a thumbnail. His shell was a mix of dark brown and tan colors. Even though people often called him "he," George was actually a hermaphrodite. This means he had both male and female reproductive parts.

Could George Have Babies?

George became old enough to reproduce in 2012. However, he couldn't have babies by himself. He needed another snail of his species to mate with. Snail researchers would often visit the spot where the last A. apexfulva were found. They would use binoculars to search the trees, hoping to find a mate for George. Sadly, they never found one.

Where Did George Live?

In 2016, George lived in a special terrarium at the University of Hawaii. Later, he was moved to a trailer outside Kailua, Oahu. There, he was cared for by David Sischo and his team. David was the director of the state's Snail Extinction Prevention Program. In August 2018, George and about 2000 other snails were moved for a short time. This was to protect them from Hurricane Lane.

George's Passing

On January 1, 2019, George died. He was 14 years old. With his death, the Achatinella apexfulva species became extinct.