Achatinella fulgens
species of mollusc
Achatinella fulgens is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc within the Achatinella genus of the family Achatinellidae. The species is one of a collection of snail species commonly referred to as Oʻahu tree snails or pupu kuahiwi in the Hawaiian language.
Description
The snail is described as having a long and glossy cone-shaped shell that is ivory-colored. The ivory-colored shell is also described as featuring belts of various colors, including "cloudy-gray, mahogany or ebony".
Distribution and habitat
This specific species of Achatinella is endemic to the southern Koʻolau Range of Oahu. However, there are only few known instances of the species, some of which exist in captivity. As of 2014, the total number of captive Achatinella fulgens was 2. The species is arboreal in the wild, as its natural habitat lies within Oahu's guava forests at lower elevations.
In 2016, a landslide destroyed the last known habitat of this species. Only 6 snails were found and evacuated.
The public source identifies “Achatinella fulgens” as species of mollusc. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Achatinella, fulgens and species.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Achatinella fulgens”, the useful work is to connect “species of mollusc” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Datasets, specimens, observations and peer-reviewed methods provide the appropriate test for the technical claims summarized here. The source revision retrieved here is dated May 28, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q3319363. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 2014 and 2016.
Scientific names, classifications and consensus can change while older terminology persists in catalogues and historical literature. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Achatinella fulgens”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Achatinella fulgens primary sources, Achatinella fulgens archive and Achatinella research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Achatinella fulgens”?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Achatinella fulgens” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.