Partula suturalis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Partula suturalis |
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Partula suturalis, also known as the Moorean viviparous tree snail or sutural partula, is a type of air-breathing land snail. These snails are mollusks, which are soft-bodied animals often with shells. This species used to live only on Moorea Island in French Polynesia.
Sadly, the Partula suturalis snail is now extinct in the wild. This means it no longer lives naturally in its home environment. It can only be found in special breeding programs in zoos and universities. Scientists once thought it was completely extinct, but its status was changed in 2009 after they realized some still existed in captivity.
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Different Types of Partula Snails
Within the Partula suturalis species, there are different types called subspecies. Think of them like different breeds of dogs, but for snails. Here are the known subspecies:
- Partula suturalis suturalis Pfeiffer, 1855 - This type is now completely extinct.
- Partula suturalis dendroica Crampton, 1924
- Partula suturalis strigosa Pfeiffer, 1856 - This type is extinct in the wild.
- Partula suturalis vexillum Pease, 1866 - This type is also extinct in the wild.
Why Partula Snails Disappeared
The main reason Partula suturalis snails disappeared from the wild was the introduction of another snail called the rosy wolfsnail. This snail is a carnivore, meaning it eats other snails.
The Rosy Wolfsnail's Arrival
In 1977, biologists brought the rosy wolfsnail to Moorea Island on purpose. They hoped it would help control a different invasive snail, the giant African land snail (Lissachatina fulica), which was causing problems. More rosy wolfsnails were also released on other islands in the 1980s and 1990s.
Unintended Consequences
However, the rosy wolfsnail preferred to eat the native Partula snails, which were much easier to catch than the giant African land snails. This led to a disaster for the Partula snails. The rosy wolfsnail quickly wiped out all 9 types of Partula snails on Moorea Island, including Partula suturalis. By 1987, there were no Partula suturalis snails left in the wild.
Saving Snails in Zoos
Luckily, before all the snails were gone, scientists managed to collect some. They started captive breeding programs in zoos and universities around the world. These programs now manage the global population of Partula snails, trying to keep them from disappearing forever.
Bringing Snails Back Home
Efforts have been made to reintroduce Moorean partula snails, including Partula suturalis, back into their natural home.
Early Reintroduction Attempts
In 1994, scientists tried to release some snails into a special protected area on Moorea Island. This experiment showed that snails born in captivity could still reproduce in the wild. However, the protected area faced repeated attacks from the invasive rosy wolfsnail, and it had to be closed down in 1998.
Future Challenges
Bringing these snails back to the wild is very challenging. The rosy wolfsnail is still present and spreading, making it difficult to find safe places for the Partula snails to live and thrive again. Scientists continue to work on ways to protect these special snails and hopefully return them to their island home one day.
