Partula taeniata explained

Partula taeniata, common name the Moorean viviparous tree snail, is a species of terrestrial gastropod in the Partulidae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.

This species was considered to be extinct in the wild, but intensive field surveys have recently detected surviving wild populations.^[1]

Conservation status

The species is listed as Critically Endangered in the 2022 and 2024 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Previously it was incorrectly listed as extinct on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species from 1988 to 1994 and as Extinct in the wild in the 1996 IUCN Red List, before being corrected to Critically Endangered in 2009,^[2] although two subspecies survive in captivity and one still exists in the wild.^[3] This error may be the result of changing taxonomy (the subspecies were previously considered to be separate species).

In 2010, a single Partula taeniata spp. simulans was transferred to the Edinburgh Zoo; the subspecies now has several hundred individuals surviving in captivity.^[4]

Subspecies

Listing of subspecies in the 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (not up to date):

• Partula taeniata elongata Pease, 1866 - extinct in the wild^[5] (rediscovered in 2003)
• Partula taeniata nucleola “Pease” Schmeltz, 1874 - extinct in the wild^[6] (rediscovered)
• Partula taeniata simulans Pease, 1866 - extinct in the wild^[7]
• Partula taeniata taeniata Mörch, 1850 - extinct^[8]

Gallery

Partula taeniata (unidentified subspecies)

Notes and References

1. Lee T.. Burch J. B. . John B. Burch. Coote T.. Pearce-Kelly P.. Hickman C.. Meyer J.-Y. . Foighil D. O. . amp . 18 August 2009. Moorean tree snail survival revisited: a multi-island genealogical perspective . BMC Evolutionary Biology . 9. 1 . 204. 10.1186/1471-2148-9-204. free . 19686604 . 3087522 . 2009BMCEE...9..204L .
2. Coote, T. . 2009 . Partula taeniata . 2009 . e.T16282A5596415 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T16282A5596415.en . 25 July 2024.
3. Web site: Arcara . M . THE EFFECTS OF HABITAT FRAGMENTATION ON THE ENDANGERED LAND SNAIL PARTULA TAENIATA IN MOOREA, FRENCH POLYNESIA . Biology and geomorphology of tropical islands . Department of Integrative Biology, University of California . 17 December 2020.
4. Web site: Kuta . Sarah . 2 May 2023 . Scientists Reintroduce 5,000 Snails to French Polynesian Islands . 2023-05-27 . Smithsonian Magazine . en.
5. Mollusc Specialist Group . 1996 . Partula taeniata ssp. elongata . e.T16346A5608321 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T16346A5608321.en.
6. Mollusc Specialist Group . 1996 . Partula taeniata ssp. nucleola . e.T16348A5609348 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T16348A5609348.en.
7. Mollusc Specialist Group . 1996 . Partula taeniata ssp. simulans . e.T16347A5609029 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T16347A5609029.en.
8. Partula taeniata ssp. taeniata. e.T64445A12781913. Mollusc Specialist Group. 1996. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T64445A12781913.en.