CR

Palaina pupa

Unknown

Overview

Palaina pupa is a species of small land snails with an operculum, a terrestrial gastropod mollusk or micromollusks in the family Diplommatinidae. This species is endemic to Palau.

Palaina pupa faces severe threats from habitat destruction as its limestone cave and karst forest environments are increasingly disturbed by quarrying activities and agricultural expansion. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while its specialized habitat requirements limit potential for natural recolonization. Climate change poses additional risks through altered moisture regimes that could affect the delicate microhabitat conditions essential for this cave-dwelling gastropod's survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

Palaina pupa inhabits limestone caves and associated karst forest environments, typically found in humid microhabitats within cave entrances and twilight zones. The species requires specific moisture and temperature conditions maintained by the stable cave environment and surrounding tropical forest cover.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist lowland· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recovery

Other threatened species in DIPLOMMATINIDAE

EN

Diplommatina pyramis

Unknown
CR

Opisthostoma perspectivum

Declining
VU

Opisthostoma bihamulatum

Stable
CR

Opisthostoma fraternum

Declining

Threatened in Palau

Humped BladderwortCR

Humped Bladderwort

Utricularia gibba

Unknown
CR

Philippine Crocodile

Crocodylus mindorensis

Declining
VU

Seventy Islands-Gecko

Lepidodactylus paurolepis

Unknown
VU

Palau Rock Snail

Sphendone insolita

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Palaina pupa classified as Critically Endangered?
Palaina pupa is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Palaina pupa faces severe threats from habitat destruction as its limestone cave and karst forest environments are increasingly disturbed by quarrying activities and agricultural expansion. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while its specialized habitat requirements limit potential for natural recolonization. Climate change poses additional risks through altered moisture regimes that could affect the delicate microhabitat conditions essential for this cave-dwelling gastropod's survival.
Where does Palaina pupa live?
Palaina pupa occurs in Palau. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Palaina pupa?
The main threats to Palaina pupa are 6.2, 7.1, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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