The non-marine molluscs of the Gambier Islands are a part of the molluscan fauna of French Polynesia. There is a high degree of endemism of these species. The gastropod fauna has been affected by severe alterations to the natural environment of the Gambier Islands. 43 of the 46 species of snails that once made the Gambier Islands their homes are now extinct.
Land gastropods
- † Cyclomorpha secessa Bouchet & Abdou, 2003 - endemic
- † Omphalotropis margarita (Pfeiffer, 1851) - endemic
- † Aukena endodonta Bouchet & Abdou, 2001 - endemic
- † Aukena tridentata (Baker, 1940) - endemic
- Philonesia mangarevae Baker, 1940 - endemic, at the base of Mont Mokoto
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See also
References
- ^ Philippe Bouchet; Ahmed Abdou (August 2003). "Recent Extinct Land Snails (Euconulidae) from the Gambier Islands with Remarkable Apertural Barriers". Pacific Science. Vol. 55, no. 2. pp. 121–127. Retrieved 2019-10-21. doi:10.1353/psc.2001.0011
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Brad Balukjian (2013-12-11). "Know Any Good Snail Jokes?". Slate magazine. Retrieved 2019-10-21.
The most recent research, published in Biodiversity and Conservation, reports the discovery of nine new species of land snail, bringing the total number of known snails from these islands to 46. But here's the catch—all nine new species are extinct. Overall, 43 of the 46 species are extinct. Deader than a dodo. Gone before they could even get names.
- ^ Philippe Bouchet; Ahmed Abdou (August 2003). "Endemic land snails from the Pacific islands and the museum record: documenting and dating the extinction of the terrestrial Assimineidae of the Gambier Islands". Journal of Molluscan Studies. 69 (3): 165–170. doi:10.1093/mollus/69.3.165. Retrieved 2019-10-21. doi:10.1093/mollus/69.3.165