I have also seen one sp of slug in forest near suva and probably Parmella
planata in forest on Kandavu. I have also heard there are still Placostylus
in remoter parts of Vanua Levu & Taveuni. but my only collection on Taveuni
produced one dead Helicina
geoff


>From: Andrew Grebneff <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Conchologists of America List <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Asian tramp snail invade Sydney-FIJI
>Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2004 08:46:38 +1300
>
>>Andrew,
>>I have also seen B similaris in Vanuatu New Caledonia, PNG, and Kandavu,
>>Fiji.
>
>It is uncommon (and smallish) in dry Nadi but large specimens are
>abundant in Suva gardens, coming out during rains (which it does a
>lot there).
>
>Hey... if you have to have a pest, it's nice that it be a mollusc!
>
>>Along the south coast of Viti LEvu a few years ago if you can find a patch
>>of forest that is relatively undisturbed there are still the large "Nanina
>>pfeifferi" (unsure of exact name) plus a few Helicinids
>
>I did find Helicina at one locality, a bone-dry road-cutting under a
>scrubby bush... all were buried.
>
>>and Diplommatinids
>>and ?Truncatella sp as well as those you mentioned.
>
>Truncatella and a bunch of ellobiids are common around the high-tide
>line, with Pythia scarabaeus above the tides.
>
>>Alas no Placostylus
>>anymore.
>
>Supposedly these are still common in parts of Vanua Levu.
>
>>I do not think the main Fiji islands were ever particularly diverse in
>>there
>>snail fauna.
>
>Around damp Suva and in a dry tall forest inland of Nadi (Vaturu
>Valley) I found 2spp of shellless "slugs" Laevicaulis, and also in
>the Suva area that haliotiform helicarionid "slug" (possibly
>Paarmella planata H Adams 1867.
>
>Fiji is a lot better for fluvial & brackish species especially
>neritids, which occur in many streams and all rivers. Ever seen a
>bunch of Clithon  diadema? Spectacular!
>--
>Andrew Grebneff
>Dunedin, New Zealand
>64 (3) 473-8863
><[log in to unmask]>
>Fossil preparator
>Seashell, Macintosh & VW/Toyota van nut
>________________________________
>I want your sinistral gastropods!
>________________________________
>Opinions in this e-mail are my own, not those of my institution
>_______________________________________________
>A: Because it reverses the logical flow of conversation.
>Q: Why is top posting frowned upon?

_________________________________________________________________
Hot chart ringtones and polyphonics. Go to
http://ninemsn.com.au/mobilemania/default.asp