Achatinella turgida is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Achatinellidae.
Subspecies Achatinella swiftii chromatacme Pilsbry & C. M. Cooke, 1914: synonym of Achatinella apexfulva chromatacme Pilsbry & C. M. Cooke, 1914 (basionym) Achatinella turgida perplexa Pilsbry & C. M. Cooke, 1914: synonym of Achatinella apexfulva perplexa Pilsbry & C. M. Cooke, 1914 (superseded combination) Achatinella turgida simulacrum Pilsbry & C. M. Cooke, 1914 : synonym of Achatinella apexfulva simulacrum Pilsbry & C. M. Cooke, 1914 (superseded combination)
Description (Original description) The shell is ventricose and tapers to a sharply pointed apex. It may be either sinistral or dextral in its spiral, possessing a surface that is both smooth and highly polished. As the shell develops, it enlarges gradually through the first four whorls before expanding very rapidly, such that the final two whorls constitute the majority of the entire structure.
The suture is slightly impressed, and just beneath it revolves a subtle linear depression. The aperture is subovate in shape, leading to a short columella that terminates in a strong, conical tubercle. This tubercle projects prominently into the aperture and, along with the interior of the outer lip, is often tinged with a delicate pink or brown. While the outer lip itself remains simple, it is notably thickened within.
Deep inside, the fauces (the interior portion of the aperture) are a clean white, providing a stark contrast to the exterior. The coloration of the shell is extremely various; the ground color may be white, yellow, or black, and it is frequently adorned with longitudinal zigzag lines, transverse bands, or bold blotches that sweep across the surface.
Distribution This species is endemic to Hawaii.
References
Cowie, R. H., Evenhuis, N. L. & Christensen, C. C. (1995). Catalog of the native land and freshwater molluscs of the Hawaiian Islands. vi + 248 pp. Leiden: Backhuys Publishers.
External links
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum: image