CR

Polynesian Tree Snail

Partula cytherea

Unknown

Overview

Partula cytherea is an extremely rare species of air-breathing tropical land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Partulidae. This species was endemic to Tahiti, French Polynesia.

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.

Threat summary

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.

Forest· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recovery

Other threatened species in PARTULIDAE

Polynesian Tree SnailCR

Polynesian Tree Snail

Partula arguta

Unknown
EN

Fiji Ridged Tree Snail

Partula lirata

Unknown
VU

Palau Rock Snail

Sphendone insolita

Unknown
CR

Partula incrassa

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Polynesian Tree Snail classified as Critically Endangered?
Polynesian Tree Snail 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. 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.
Where does Polynesian Tree Snail live?
Polynesian Tree Snail occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Polynesian Tree Snail?
The main threats to Polynesian Tree Snail are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.