Changes in the terrestrial molluscan fauna of Miti'āro, southern Cook Islands: Tuhinga 21

Tuhinga 21: 75-98

ABSTRACT: Thirty-seven species of terrestrial molluscs (36 landsnails and one slug) are recorded from Miti'āro, a low-lying makatea island in the southern Cook Islands. The fauna was found to consist predominantly of non-indigenous and cryptogenic species, and lacked local endemics. Comparison of fossil and modern assemblages indicates declines and extirpation/extinction of some species, including three species of Endodontidae, over the last several hundred years. There have also been synanthropic introductions of many non-indigenous species, beginning in the prehistoric period, and including a major influx over the last 100 years or so of species ultimately derived from source areas outside the Pacific basin.

KEYWORDS: Pacific Ocean, landsnail fauna, fossil landsnails, non-indigenous species,extinctions, Holocene faunal changes.