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Post by tsrebel on Jan 9, 2013 18:58:16 GMT
While there is international concensus about protecting endangerend mammals, there is little awareness about endangered snails in general. The Florida Tree Snail and Polyamita picta are exceptions. So I thought we'd make a list of how every one of us can help protect them. Lobby:- Find out if there are any endangered species in your area.
- Contact authorities and ask them what efforts they make to protect these species.
- Offer to help out by informing the local community (posters, schools, local paper etc.)
- and/or start a breeding programme
Finding and caring for endangered snails (if the authorities agree to breeding programme or if they dismiss your concern) - Make sure you know how to take care of them before you remove them from their habitat!
- Document where and when you found them (photo of location, list of surrounding plants, temperature etc.)
- Make sure you leave more behind than you collect. Don't take more than a few the first time. Take with you a small sample of earth too, for future testing if possible.
- When you get them to breed; release most of the offspring to the original location.
- If the snails don't breed or die, make sure you know why before getting more.
This is just some thoughts I have now, the lists may be supplemented. Remember that sending endangered species abroad is illegal. I guess one could get a permit if a breeding programme is accepted by the authorities. There are many reasons why some snail species become endangered: - introducted foreign predators (like the rosy wolf snail) - "development" for humans, like buildings and roads - pollution - climate change - human negligence in general (poisen in gardens, using the specie for food) Most of these reasons are inevitable, irreversible or hard to fight locally, and this makes a good point for a breeding programme.
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Post by tsrebel on Jan 9, 2013 20:07:39 GMT
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Post by vallery on Jan 10, 2013 0:13:36 GMT
Hi tsrebel , This is a great thread you have started. I would really like to get involved. I am definitely going to study up to see what I can do. Wonderful of you to start this. I hope a lot of people on the forum view this and give their opinion and do something as well. Thanks tsrebel vallery
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Post by vallery on Jan 10, 2013 0:36:51 GMT
Hi tsrebel I checked out IUNC - Invertebrates you suggested. People can Contact them. They have IUNC Red Lists of threatened species. They also have an on line newsletter - CIUNC - Conservation Oceania everyone can read. This would be great for everyone to check out. Thanks again tsrebel If you start up a breeding program yourself maybe some of us can donate to help you out. I could really get into this. I wonder if there are endangered Slugs? There are no endangered snails here that I could see from the lists. vallery
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Post by shaydeesnail on Jan 10, 2013 21:09:57 GMT
Very useful thread, thanks Tsrebel!
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Post by brunni on Jan 12, 2013 9:36:40 GMT
Thanks tsrebel for this very topical posting. Take care where you get your species list from. The listing you mention from earthsendangered.com is full of errors, omissions, qualified references and also includes many marine and fresh water species. The alphabetical listing of the common name renders the listing worthless; e.g. nos. 200 - 203 are all listed as Cone shell; there are almost 1,000 species of cone shells. Read the disclaimer at the top of the list ! There are different degrees or severity of "endangered". Most common cause of snails becoming extinct is the human destruction or change of their natural habitat. See Frank Koehler reply to Joshua Kershaw under comments in this link : australianmuseum.net.au/Threatened-and-endangered-land-snails#comment-604200318
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Post by tsrebel on Jan 12, 2013 19:57:18 GMT
Sorry, I didn't read the list very well, just wanted to save it for future reference. I know the Norwegian national list of endangered species, but couldn't find one that included all of Europe or the world. The most endangered species should probably be left for the scientific breeding programs, but I think especially species of concern could get help from hobbyists. Many of them are stabile populations in really small areas. A fire or any other local incident could then prove fatal, unless a breeding population is kept in captivity.
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Post by vallery on Jan 15, 2013 19:12:21 GMT
Endangered Banff Snail Threatened by Dry Springs.
Could be a result of climate change or lack of snow.
Not sure what they can do.
The Banff snail is about the size of a kernel of corn.
It isn't found anywhere else in the world.
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johananv
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 38
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Post by johananv on Feb 3, 2013 19:38:24 GMT
Great thread tsrebel! vallery: There are several species of slug that are endangered, threatened, or vulnerable. I don't know which species are in your area but, in South Africa, we have several species of threatened hunter slugs(Will post the scientific name later). If there are endangered slugs in your area, and you get hold of some, I hope that you manage to breed them successfully. I, for one, would be really hapy to breed purcell's and Burnup's hunter snails in captivity if I could get hold of them. To the best of my awareness, these slugs are not even on the T.O.P.S LIST(South Africa's version of the red list, it stands for threatened or protected species). I hope that some hobbyists will be able to start cultures in captivity. So many species have survived in captivity only due to the fact that hobbyists had a small breeding group. If a natural disaster were to hit wild populations, at least the species would not go extinct. JV
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Post by vallery on Feb 5, 2013 6:08:04 GMT
Hi johananv , I would love for you to post the list of slugs you are speaking of. I have managed to get 2 different types of slug eggs to hatch. Leopard slugs, just by chance I found one and kept it and it was already pregnant it passed away after her 2nd batch of eggs.Some of her eggs hatched. Also one species I am not sure of what they are. I found some eggs outside under a patio stone. They have hatched and may be leopards but to early to tell. I found another leopard slug in January of all times and again a pregnant one she recently just laid eggs. I have never bred any slugs in captivity. vallery
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johananv
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 38
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Post by johananv on Feb 5, 2013 8:20:15 GMT
Hi Vallery,
The Genus I was talking about is Chlamydephorus. C. burnupi, C. purcelli, and one other species are on the red list. They are all endemic to South Africa, and are threatened by habitat loss. They are predatory on other invertebrates, and like most molluscs it is sadly neglected. There are no measures in place to ensure their survival.
Johanan
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Post by vallery on Feb 5, 2013 12:31:24 GMT
Hi johananv , I am having a difficult time finding much information on the chyamydephorus. Found only a little, mostly that they are called hunter slugs. I can find no pictures either. If you have some sites with some good information and photos It would be great if you can post them. vallery
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johananv
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 38
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Post by johananv on Feb 5, 2013 14:05:48 GMT
I will see what I can find. I read about them in one of the IUCN books.
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johananv
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 38
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Post by johananv on Feb 5, 2013 14:19:25 GMT
I can't seem to find anyhting useable either, I'm very sorry. The pictures that I have seen, however, show some very interesting slugs. I love them.
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Post by vallery on Feb 6, 2013 15:49:24 GMT
That's okay johananv I will keep checking to for info. I am very interested in what these slugs look like. vallery
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Post by brunni on Feb 11, 2013 20:06:36 GMT
Whilst the endangered Invertebrates may be documented in South Africa, there is no data available for the rest of sub-Saharan Africa. Vast tracts of land are clear felled of forest and the habitats destroyed. The land if polluted by plastics and chemicals, the earth becomes infertile, the number of vehicles escalates alongside electronic gadgets and polythene waste. Drinking quality water has become a problem in many areas.
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Post by brunni on Feb 11, 2013 20:58:37 GMT
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