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Big Hawaiian Snail

Waimea Valley Botanic Gardens, O'ahu, Hawai'i

"Approximately 750 recognized species of land snails once occurred throughout the Hawaiian Islands and 60 - 90% of this diversity has been lost. Historically their shells were used to make lei. Snails are in traditional Hawaiian poetry. Some terrestrial snails increase the nutrient cycling of forest litter and others benefit their host plants by feeding on fungus and algae on the leaves.

Snails support a functioning forest ecosystem."

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Uploaded on November 29, 2024
Taken on October 9, 2024