The family Achatinellidae is completely protected, and is indeed endemic to
Hawaii.  You are not allowed to collect even dead specimens.

They are tree snails.  Individual species may live out their entire lives in
a single tree.  Go to the next valley and you will find a different species.

Populations have been decimated by development and foreign predation (such
as Euglandina rosea, rats and feral cats).  Locations where the remaining
populations still exist are usually hard to reach and kept secret by the
biologists studying them.  I had the rare pleasure of a field trip some
years ago sponsored by the Waikiki Aquarium to one of these locations where
I was able to see Achatinella mustellina.  A short article written by me for
the Hawaiian Shell News included a few photos.

It takes an Achatinella sp. many years before it gives birth to one baby.
These snails rival the Florida Liguus in color patterns.  Unlike Liguus
which only has one species, Achatinella has several species.  There are a
lot of parallels between Achatinella and Liguus.

Some early collectors were known to over-collect in the late 19th and early
20th centuries.

The best source of information for terrestrial snails in Hawaii is Dr.
Robert Cowie of the Bishop Museum on Oahu, Hawaii.

John Jacobs
Seffner, FL
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