Samoan Land Snails Identification Guide

Samoan Land Snails Identification Guide

(data last revised 29 June 2001)

Use this image-based identification guide to help identify Samoan land snails.

Distribution:	?Savai'i, ?'Upolu, ?Nu'utele, ?Nu'ulua, Tutuila, Ofu, Ta'u; probably all islands.
Natural Range:	Widespread in the Pacific, northern Australia, southern Asia.
Status:	Indigenous.
Habitat:	In leaf litter on the forest floor, generally within a hundred meters or so of the shore.
Adult Size:	Height, up to 30 mm; width, up to 17 mm.
Identification:	Species of Pythia have curiously laterally flattened shells. Color varies greatly from pale buff to dark purplish, with or without dark blotches, flecks and other markings.