Fulica rodatzi is Fulica hamillei

[Kevin]

I have 2 of these snails, they are from rodatzi parents, I thought they were normal shell fulica rodatzi, Ive just been given info on rodatzi by Andreas Leiß, an expert on african snails that they are Fulica hamillei, and that rodatzi are albino shell fulica hamillei, and that if I breed my hamillei it is possible that the babies could be rodatzi (the albino shell form hamilei)

edited to add-

The only difference between hamillei and fulica is that hamillei produce rodatzi, whille normal fulica do not, i only know theyre hamillei as they are from rodatzi.

[KathyM]

Very interesting Kevin ;D

Out of interest, for a numpty like me - how do you tell the difference between "normal" fulicas and hamillei?

[copigeon]

That really explains my random batch of rodazti. Cheers kevin.

[sezzy5889]

noooooooooooooooooooo, i want my normal shelled rodatzi back

[Paul]

According to Bequaert, hamillei are the common variant, which is why rodatzi are albino version of it. It is much more likely that that common fulica we see are hamillei than not.

[Arno]

So the official name would then be:

Achatina fulica var. hamillei form rodatzi (or something like that)?

[Paul]

well, you'd think that but they seem to consider stable albino populations as separate variants so it would be:

Achatina fulica var. rodatzi

[Deleted]

when my rodatzi had babies, the babies started off yellow at birth and then turned into looking like normal fulica. do all hamellei do that?

and so is rodatzi a type of albinism?

[copigeon]

The "rodazti" I had from melly, which look to be Hamillei started out pale but with stripes, small thin flame markings and darkened into propper stripes at a small shell size.

The "rodazti" I sent out this week, were plain, no flames no stripes from hatching, and developed light mottled barring which has faded to yellow.

[Deleted]

Aha! I found a picture of baby fulica hamellei that look exactly like the babies my rodatzi laid.

it.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/achatina_gasteropodi/photos/view/8c6d?b=3

so the 'mystery babies' I sold were fulica hamellei

[copigeon]

They look (mikes link to hamillei) just like the "rodazti" melly sent.

[section8angel]

So the ones from Mike and Melly are fulica var. hamillei and the ones from you Emma are fulica var. rodatzi?

I'm too confused so that's probably wrong lol

[copigeon]

Well, from what has been said.... and correct me if Im wrong.

A. fulica hamillei is a subspecies of A. fulica, features being a yellowish tone to the shell and a much more uniform colouration (less patchwork markings?).
A. fulica rodazti (as we know it) is actually the same subspecies as A fulica hamillei, but (from what youve said paul?) a geographic varient which due to environmental factors maybe? Has produced a stable line of albino shells?

It would certainly make sense, that Hamillei mutated, and the mutation survived due to whatever factor (better camoflage? etc?) And due to the number of mutations surviving in a small region, that the line of that colour variation stabilised to produce a noticable colony of rodazti?

Rodazti is basically a description for the colour variation, but due to the way someone decided to name it its almost considered its own subspecies in its own right?

Correct me if Im wrong here,

But if thats true, there is no harm in keeping and breeding hamillei/rodazti together, if you dont mind losing/weakening that plain shelled varients frequency in hatching.
If it is simply a genetic mutation, and a recessive one, you can attempt to produce a number of double recessives. Which would result in a stable rodazti line.

But considering it is a genetic mutation, and a recessive one at that, I find it odd that a stable population of them could be produced, as they dont look signifigantly different to hamellei, so I dont see how the dominant gene could be so displaced by natural selection?

[Arno]

I think that you are right,I've read in a book where they considered hamillei a syn. of rodatzi,and rodatzi was named before hamillei.Also that rodatzi is found in drier areas than normal fulica,so pale skin could help with heat reflection?

[suzz]

I know this was posted a long long time ago but wondered if anyone else could explain more as im still trying to get it and understand all the different strains and species and the people you named earlier, would you be able to contact them?? as it would be nice to have someone on hand that is an expert on African land snails, thanks

[muddydragon]

Which people do you wish to contact suzz?

There's some debate of the status of hamillei the literature is somewhat limited and confused on the matter, to quote my old lecturer "achieving consensus among taxonomists is like herding cats". Sometimes rodatzi is referred to as the subspecies name and sometimes hamillei. It is generally considered that hamillei is the subspecies of the species Achatina fulica (in the pet trade). This subspecies can produce yellow shelled snails called rodatzi.

So you have:

Achatina fulica

Achatina fulica subsp. hamillei (looks like fulica but can produce yellow shelled snails)

Achatina fulica subsp. hamillei form rodatzi (yellow shelled snails)

Does this help? Would a further explanation of general scientific nomenclature (system of coming up with scientific names) help?

[suzz]

Hello someone who can give the knowledge on snails that I am really really wanting There is not many who can unfortunate really my friends are not so keen on these shelled creatures.
my cats do not heard but then I found dreamies that works oh okay that makes slightly more sense. Umm why not educate me and keep me amused
P.s does that mean a Achantina reticulatas offspring would cause a Achantina fulica, hamillei form rodatzi (yellow shelled snails with an albino foot)or would it be another subspecies of achantina fulica ......