Amphidromus javanicus

Amphidromus javanicus is a species of large-sized air-breathing tree snail, an arboreal gastropod mollusk in the family Camaenidae.

Amphidromus javanicus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Order:	Stylommatophora
Family:	Camaenidae
Genus:	Amphidromus
Species:	A. javanicus
Binomial name
Amphidromus javanicus (G.B. Sowerby, 1833)
Synonyms
Bulimus javanicus G. B. Sowerby I, 1833 Bulinus javanicus G. B. Sowerby I, 1833 superseded combination

It is closely related to South Bengkulu's Amphidromus elvinae. This explains the color similarities of the two species.

Distribution

Java, Indonesia but it is most commonly found in Northwest Java near Depok and in Depok.

Habitat

Dense jungles, banana groves, near roads, bamboo pockets, and in muddy fields.

Conservation Status

The Amphidromus javanicus is critically endangered on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss, deforestation, and hunting for traditional Javanese escargot. As a lesser-known species, this gastropod doesn't have any conservation efforts underway to protect it.

Characteristics

This snail is known for its vibrant, helicoid shell, typically 3-5 cm long. This is the common size, but the size depends on the Snail's environment. Its shell is light bown in color with dark brown stripes and medium stripes in the middle.

Behaviour

This snail's behaviour varies from season to season. In the dry season they are usually active in this time to find water to not dry up. In the hot season they are less active due to the availability of water sources.

Diet

This Amphidromus snail feeds on leafs, dry, living, or dead. But they usually feed on healthy ones that are still bright green.

Taxonomy

This invertebrate was discovered by John Edward Sowerby in 1833, on a lesser-known expedition he went on to discover another not very lesser-known Javanese creature. When John Edward Sowerby discovered it in 1841, it was very lesser-known at the time, and no tribes had ever known what it was.

Reproduction

The Amphidromus javanicus snails exhibit fascinating reproductive behaviour characteristics of the Amphidromus genus. Hermaphroditic creatures, these land snails possess both male and female Reproductive organs, which allows for flexible mating strategies. They engage in Reciprocity-induced mating, where two snails exchange sperm, ensuring genetic diversity. Mating can be influenced by environmental factors such as humidity and temperatures, as these conditions affect their activity and readiness for reproduction

References

• Sowerby, G. B. I; Sowerby, G. B. II. (1832–1841). The Conchological Illustrations; or coloured figures of hitherto unfigured Recent shells. London: privately published. p. 31.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Laidlaw, F. F. & Solem, A. (1961). "The land snail genus Amphidromus. A synoptic catalogue". Fieldiana: Zoology. 41: 561.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)