Papustyla pulcherrima is a victim of the logging trade on Manus Island
where the exotic hardwoods are more valuable than the snails (raw wood
planks are worth many times the value of the green snail shell).  The
status of the species cannot yet be verified.  A few on-line references are
linked below.

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/9468/papua_ng.htm

http://www.amnh.org/Exhibition/Expedition/Endangered/snail/snail.html

http://orion.mesc.nbs.gov/species_profile/species_profile.html?spcode=G000

Rich

At 08:48 PM 01/25/01, you wrote:
>Folks,
>   I once heard the folowing story:  Papuina pulcherrima / Papustyla
>pulcherrima, which is on the CITES list, and considered endangered by
>several governments (in addition to CITES listing) is not actually in any
>danger.  However, since it is an arboreal animal, people were destroying
>the habitat indiscriminantly trying to collect these shells.  Thus, it was
>listed as endangered not to save its existance but to save the habitat
>where it is found (and I guess ultimately this will assure its survival
>also).  Has anyone else heard this story?  Is the taxon in question truly
>endangered?
>   Thanks for your input.
>
>Regards,
>Charlie