User:Jtaguchi10/Achatinella mustelina

Achatinella mustelina is a type of land snail that is part of the Achatinellidae family. This endangered terrestrial snail has quite a large distribution on the Waianae Range. This type of species is endemic to the island of Oahu in the Hawaiian archipelago.

Distribution
Of all the endangered tree snails that are remaining in the wild, Achatinella mustelina is the most abundant and locally widespread, with at least 2,000 remaining in the wild. This type of species is endemic in the Hawaiian archipelago to the island of Oahu.

Description
From different locations, Achatinella mustelina vary in size, shape, and color. In general, adults range 19 – 24 mm in length, with an average length of 21.4 mm. The shells have a shiny finish and are usually brown with light bands that circle the suture convex, or they are white with transverse black or brown lines. The shells can be either dextral or sinistral and consist of five to seven convex whirls. The shell is relatively high-spiraled and oblong to ovate with an aperture that is also oblong and ovate. The columella of Achatinella mustelina is short, stout, and slightly twisted. It has a well-developed spiral lamella, or ridge. A callus on the columella closes the umbilicus. The lip of the organism does not have any ridges, ribs, or folds.

Reproduction and Growth
A. mustelina align themselves parallel and mount the other snail’s shell when mating. Achatinella mustelina has a lengthy gestation period and gives birth to large, live young that mature late and have a low fecundity. Although reproductive maturity occurs after the maximum size is reached, reproductive maturity may be dependent on age, not size. Reported age at maturity varies, ranging from 3 to 6.9 years. Most cases, adults range 19 – 24 mm in length, with an average length of 21.4 mm.

Habitat
The range of Achatinella mustelina extends about 25 kilometers north to south in the Waianae Mountain Range on the island of Oahu along elevational clines of 400–1,200 m. This type of species inhabit elevated forests that are dry, wet, or places that contain a moderate amount of moisture. Examples are mountainous forests. The home range of A. mustelina is often limited to a single tree and the nearby surrounding shrubbery. Individuals rarely move between trees.

Economic Importance for Humans
There are no known negative effects of Achatinella mustelina on humans. Because of their vibrant coloration, Achatinella mustelina shells were collected by people of Oahu to craft traditional leis and other ornaments. Shells from the Achatinella are still collected and sold as ornaments today as part of Hawaii’s tourist trade.

Cultural significance
It appears that the ancestral colonizing species of achatinellines arrived first on Oahu from an unknown source, and that Oahu is the Hawaiian origin of the subfamily. Due to their beautiful shells, they are being collected by people on Oahu and being made as crafts and sold.