Galapagos land snail (Bulimulus reibischi)

Bulimulus reibischi on leaf
Bulimulus reibischi on leaf

Galapagos land snail fact file

Galapagos land snail description

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumMollusca
ClassGastropoda
OrderStylommatophora
FamilyBulimulidae
GenusBulimulus (1)

This Galápagos land snail 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). While the foot of this species is pale brown, the relatively long, conical shell is cream-coloured, and bares a distinctively wrinkled texture.

Synonyms
Naesiotus reibischi.
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Galapagos land snail biology

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

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Galapagos land snail range

Confined to the island of Santa Cruz in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, where just one population is known with a total range of no more than 10 km² (1).

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Galapagos land snail habitat

Found on shrubs and tree trunks (Croton scouleri and Bursera graveolens) in arid to transition zones (1). B. reibischi might also be found under lava rocks, where many specimens of the same species might be found glued together, especially during the dry season. The specimens can also be found under the bark of some trees, especially Opuntia cacti (4).

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Galapagos land snail status

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

IUCN Red List species status – Critically Endangered

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Galapagos land snail threats

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).

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Galapagos land snail conservation

There are currently no conservation measures targeting this species.

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

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Authentication

Authenticated (06/12/2006) by Christine Parent, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University.
http://www.sfu.ca/~cparent/index.htm

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Glossary

Endemic
A species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.
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References

  1. IUCN Red List (October, 2006)
    http://www.iucnredlist.org
  2. Coppois, G. (1998) Invertebrate research overview: 2. The endemic land snails. Bulletin De L'institut Royal Des Sciences Naturelles De Belgique, 70. Available at:
    http://www.darwinfoundation.org/articles/br15049806.html
  3. Parent, C.E. and Smith, R.P. (2006) Galápagos Bulimulids: Status report on a devastated fauna. Tentacle: Newsletter of the IUCN/SSC Mollusc Specialist Group, 14: 25 - 27. Available at:
    http://www.hawaii.edu/cowielab/Tentacle/Tentacle%2014%20(Cowie%202005).pdf#search=%22Bulimulus%20reibischi%22
  4. Parent, C. (2006) Pers. comm.

More »Related species

Galapagos land snail (Bulimulus ochsneri)Galapagos land snail (Bulimulus nux)Galapagos land snail (Bulimulus akamatus)Galapagos land snail (Bulimulus planospira)Galapagos land snail (Bulimulus alethorhytidus)Galapagos land snail (Bulimulus eos)Galapagos land snail (Bulimulus darwini)Galapagos land snail (Bulimulus saeronius)

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Image credit

Bulimulus reibischi on leaf  
Bulimulus reibischi on leaf

© Christine Parent

Christine Parent
Department of Biological Sciences
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby
BC
V5A 1S6
Canada
Tel: +01 (604) 291 5625
Fax: +01 (604) 291 3496
cparent@sfu.ca
http://www.sfu.ca/~cparent/

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