🐾 LandCare difficulty: AdvancedLegal complexity: High — restricted in many states
Polynesian tree snail (Partula)
Partula nodosa
Partula nodosa is a tiny Polynesian tree snail classed as extinct in the wild, surviving only in zoo breeding programs after an introduced predatory snail devastated its island fauna. It is part of one of the longest-running international invertebrate conservation efforts.
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Quick facts
| Size | Small tree snail ~1.5-2 cm shell. |
| Lifespan | 5–10 years |
| Native region | Tahiti, French Polynesia |
| Climate | 🌴 Tropical |
| Genus | Partula |
Habitat & enclosure
Once lived on vegetation in Tahitian valleys, but the deliberate introduction of the predatory rosy wolfsnail (to control another pest) wiped out Partula across many Pacific islands. It now exists only in managed zoo colonies, and reintroductions to predator-protected reserves are underway. This profile is conservation/education only.
Diet
Feeds on decaying plant matter, algae, and fungi on leaf surfaces. Captive colonies are reared on controlled diets under careful humidity management.
Behavior & temperament
These snails are hermaphroditic and give birth to live young, producing few offspring slowly, which makes captive breeding painstaking. The Partula program is a landmark example of zoos serving as an 'ark' for species erased from the wild.
Reviewed and signed off by: KinStation Editorial — conservation profile (pending DVM/biologist review)