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COURTESY DLNR
The last land snail of its kind, named George, died on New Years Day.
The last known endemic land snail of its kind in Hawaii has died on New Year’s Day.
The Achatinella apexfulva named George was approximately 14 years old.
In 1997, ten Achatinella apexfulva were brought to a laboratory at the University of Hawaii in an effort to preserve the imperiled species.
Some offspring were produced but eventually all the Achatinella axpexfulva including the offspring at the lab died except George, according to a news release by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The snail species has a distintive yellow tip on its shell.
Ninety percent of more than 750 snail species throughout Hawaii have become extinct due to invasive species, habitat destruction and over-collection because of their shells, the land agency said.
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