Achatinella fulgens | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
Order: | Stylommatophora |
Family: | Achatinellidae |
Genus: | Achatinella |
Subgenus: | Achatinellastrum |
Species: | A. fulgens
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Binomial name | |
Achatinella fulgens
Newcomb, 1853
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Achatinella fulgens is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc within the Achatinella genus of the family Achatinellidae. [3] The species is one of a collection of snail species commonly referred to as Oʻahu tree snails or pupu kuahiwi in the Hawaiian language. [3]
The snail is described as having a long and glossy cone-shaped shell [4] that is ivory-colored. [5] The ivory-colored shell is also described as featuring belts of various colors, including "cloudy-gray, mahogany or ebony". [5]
This specific species of Achatinella is endemic to the southern Koʻolau Range of Oahu. [6] However, there are only few known instances of the species, some of which exist in captivity. [5] As of 2014, the total number of captive Achatinella fulgens was 2. [7] The species is arboreal in the wild, as its natural habitat lies within Oahu's guava forests at lower elevations. [6]
Achatinella fulgens is used by humans mainly for scientific purposes, as specimens of the species have been collected throughout the years for study. [3] Achatinella species are of major significance within Hawaiian culture, as chronicled within Hawaiian oral tradition. [5] Historically, these land snails have been said by the Hawaiians to possess the ability to sing. [5]