ABSTRACT: Land snails ofthe genus Partula, inhabiting the high islands ofthe
Pacific Ocean, have provided exceptional opportunities for studies oil the origin
and differentiation ofspecies: The endemic taxa ofMoorea, in French Polynesia,
have been particularly well studied.
In an attempt to control the numbers of the giant African snail, Achatina
fulica, which is an agricultural pest, a carnivorous snail, Euglandina rosea; has
been introduced into Moorea. It isspreading across the island at the rate ofabout
1.2 km per year, eliminating the endemic Partula. One species is aiready extinct
in the wild; and extrapolating the rate ofspread of Ezigltmdina , it is expected that
all the remaining taxa (possibly excepting P. exigua) will be eliminated by
1986-1987.
Euglandina has been introd