Partula cytherea
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Partula cytherea 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 urban development across its native range in French Polynesia. Competition from other introduced species and the small, fragmented nature of remaining populations further threaten this endemic tree snail's survival.
Habitat
Partula cytherea inhabits native montane forests and valley vegetation in French Polynesia, typically found on endemic trees and shrubs where it feeds on fungal films and decaying plant matter. The species requires humid, shaded forest environments with specific microclimatic conditions that support both the snails and their fungal food sources.