Hawaii
mourns last known survivor of snail species
The
last snail belonging to the species Achatinella apexfulva in Hawaii died
New Year’s Day at 14 years old, according to researchers with the Hawaii
Department of Land and Natural Resources. The snail, named George after the
Pinta Island tortoise known as Lonesome George, was the only survivor of 10
snails that were brought to a University of Hawaii lab in 1997.
The snail was
often featured in newspapers, magazines and other outlets, since it was the
last of its kind and was an example of land snails declining in the state.
Researchers say the species’ decline was caused in part by people collecting
the snails for their shells and to use on leis. Climate change and habitat loss
also led to their demise. “The remaining land snails in Hawaii face imminent
extinction threats from invasive species and climate change,” the Department of
Land and Natural Resources said in a press release.
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