Hawaii Biological Survey’s

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102. Lana‘i Tree Snail

Scientific name: Partulina variabilis

Hawaiian Name: —

Classification: Phylum: Mollusca. Class: Gastropoda: Family: Achatinellidae.

Origin: Endemic.

Status: Candidate Endangered Species.

Distribution: Lana‘i.

Map: —


This colorful snail is extremely rare and found only on the tiny island of Lana‘i, where it is limited to just a small area of surviving wet forest. Unlike its rare snail cousins on other islands, it does not have to fear the cannibal snail (which does not occur on Lana‘i), but it is losing its native habitat to deer and pigs. Its populations are very low because of this as well as predation by rats.

   Photo © William P. Mull