Rarotonga Tree Snail
Partula assimilis
Photo: Photo: Pease, 1871, no known copyright restrictions (public domain)
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Partula assimilis faces extinction primarily due to predation by the introduced carnivorous snail Euglandina rosea, which was deliberately introduced to Pacific islands in the 1970s as a misguided biological control agent. The species has also suffered from habitat destruction through deforestation and agricultural conversion of its native forest environments. Competition from other introduced species and the small, fragmented nature of remaining populations further threaten this critically endangered Polynesian tree snail.
Habitat
Partula assimilis inhabits native tropical forests and woodland areas in French Polynesia, typically found on vegetation and tree trunks in humid, shaded environments. The species requires intact forest canopy cover and specific microhabitat conditions that maintain appropriate moisture levels for survival.
Other threatened species in PARTULIDAE
Threatened in Cook Islands
Frequently asked questions
Why is Rarotonga Tree Snail classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Rarotonga Tree Snail live?
What are the main threats to Rarotonga Tree Snail?
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