Achatinella phaeozona
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Achatinella phaeozona faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from urban development and invasive plant species that alter native forest composition. Introduced predators, particularly the rosy wolf snail (Euglandina rosea) and rats, have devastated populations by directly consuming individuals and eggs. Climate change compounds these pressures by shifting rainfall patterns and temperature ranges that affect the cool, moist microhabitats essential for this species' survival.
Habitat
This endemic Hawaiian tree snail inhabits native montane forests on Oahu, particularly in cool, moist areas with dense canopy cover between 300-600 meters elevation. It requires specific microhabitat conditions including high humidity, stable temperatures, and native vegetation for both shelter and the fungal food sources it grazes from leaf surfaces.