Achatinella mustelina is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Achatinellidae. This species is endemic to the Waianae Range of the island of Oahu, Hawaii.

Achatinella mustelina
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Stylommatophora
Family: Achatinellidae
Genus: Achatinella
Subgenus: Achatinella
Species:
A. mustelina
Binomial name
Achatinella mustelina
Mighels, 1845
Achatinella mustelina

All 13 subspecies of Achatinella mustelina were synonymized with the species by Holland & Hadfield (2007),[3] because they are not monophyletic.[3]

Habitat

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Achatinella mustelina can be found on elevated forests that are dry, wet, or mesic. Achatinella mustelina attaches itself to leaves at the tops of native trees and shrubs such as Metrosideros polymorpha, Dubautia plantanginea, Myrsine lessertiana, Pisonia sandwicensis, Antidesma platyphyllum and Nestegis sandwicensis. Some individuals may live on a single tree for their entire lifetime.

Range Elevation: 600 to 1,158 m (1,970 to 3,800 ft)[4]

Physical Description

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Achatinella mustelina from different locations vary in size, shape, and color. Adults range from 19 to 24 mm (0.75 to 0.94 in) in length, with an average length of 21.4 mm (0.84 in). The shells have a shiny finish and are usually brown with light bands that circle the suture convex, or they are white with transverse black or brown lines.[5]

Diet

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Achatinella mustelina feeds primarily at night. Both adults and juveniles graze on fungus on surface of leaves at night.[6]

Lifespan

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Achatinella mustelina has long lifespan compared to other terrestrial gastropods. Longetivity is estimated to be 10 years, but individuals may live up to 15 to 20 years.[7]

Reproduction

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Achatinella mustelina is hermaphroditic and may self-fertilize. They have a lengthy gestation period and give birth to large, live young that mature late and have a low fecundity. Achatinella mustelina breeds year-round.[6]

Development

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Achatinella mustelina develop from an intrauterine embryo. Growth in utero is thought to be logarithmic[8]

References

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  1. ^ Hadfield, M.; Hadway, L. (1996). "Achatinella mustelina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T191A13048229. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T191A13048229.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  3. ^ a b Holland B. S.; Hadfield M. G. (2007). "Molecular Systematics of the Endangered Oʻahu Tree Snail Achatinella mustelina: Synonymization of Subspecies and Estimation of Gene Flow between Chiral Morphs". Pacific Science. 61 (1): 53–66. doi:10.1353/psc.2007.0007.
  4. ^ Bicescu, Peter; Stalter, Colleen. "Achatinella mustelina". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  5. ^ Luciano Chiaverano; Brenden Holland (May 2014). "Impact of an invasive predatory lizard on the endangered Hawaiian tree snail Achatinella mustelina: a threat assessment". Endangered Species Research. 24 (2): 115–123. doi:10.3354/esr00589.
  6. ^ a b "Endangered Snails of Makua Valley Are Placed at Risk by Army Fires -". Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  7. ^ "Chapter 5: Achatinella mustelina Management" (PDF). Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit. Mānoa: University of Hawaiʻi.
  8. ^ "Achatinella mustelina". NatureServe Explorer 2.0. The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
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