Galapagos land snail  (Bulimulus ochsneri)

Classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List 2006 (1).

This Galápagos land snail species is one of many tiny endangered bulimulid snails endemic to the Galápagos Islands, which often go unnoticed due to their small size (the largest species only reaching 25 mm in length) and dull brown colours (2) (3). This species has a dark brownish-black, conical, spiralled shell, tinted with red.

Endemic to the Galápagos Island of Santa Cruz (1).

Found in arid to transition zones, typically under rocks or on tree trunks (1).

Nothing is known of this Galápagos land snail’s biology.

Since its colonisation in 1920, the human population on Santa Cruz has multiplied dramatically, leading to the decline of suitable habitat for land snails as farming and road and house construction grew (1) (2). In addition, habitat alteration and introduced species of plants and animals are also thought to have had a negative impact (1) (3).

There are currently no conservation measures targeting this species.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.