Bishop Museum Welcomes Last Known Survivor of Rare Hawaiian Snail Genus

Hawaiian land snails are among the most threatened animal groups on the planet. 

Researchers believe 11 species of Endodonta once lived in the wild across the Hawaiian Islands—part of a family of about 200 species. Today, it is likely the last remaining species in the Endodonta genus.

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Bishop Museum, the State of Hawaiʻi Museum of Natural and Cultural History, houses the largest collection of Hawaiian land snails, preserving specimens, DNA, and tissues from thousands of species—many of which are now extinct. The museum’s Pūpū Ola: Kāhuli Captive Rearing Research Center not only cares for these rare species but also provides opportunities for the people of Hawaiʻi to learn about and connect with them. 

The museum recently welcomed Hawaiian land snails believed to be the last known surviving representatives of their genus. Named Endodonta christenseni by Bishop Museum curators Dr. Norine Yeung and Dr. Kenneth Hayes and their colleagues in 2020, the tiny snail was originally discovered by the museum’s team during the Tanager Expedition in 1924—a series of five biological surveys in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands between 1923 and 1924. More than a century later, its descendants arrived at Bishop Museum’s research center on Oct. 15, 2025.

Located in Honolulu, Oʻahu, Bishop Museum is the largest museum in the state.
Photo: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)/Tor Johnson

“Once, 11 species of Endodonta lived across the Hawaiian Islands, part of a larger family of as many as 200 species. All but this one species are now gone,” said Dr. Yeung in a news release. “Along with a single surviving relative in the main Hawaiian Islands, Cookeconcha hystricella, these two species represent our last chance to save the ancient lineages of native land snails in Hawaiʻi.” 

For almost a century, Endodonta christenseni remained undescribed after its discovery. Now formally named, the species is on a path toward conservation. Bishop Museum partners with the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Snail Extinction Prevention Program (DLNR SEPP). Through this partnership, the snails are secured at Pūpū Ola, where they are protected, studied, and bred to increase their population. Eventually, the goal is to release them into the wild. 

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These snails embody both fragility and resilience,” Dr. Yeung said. “From Cooke’s s discovery in 1924 to our team’s work today, Bishop Museum has been at the heart of their story. Their survival reminds us that entire evolutionary lineages, millions of years in the making, are at stake. Through Pūpū Ola and our partnership with DLNR SEPP, we are building a safety net for Hawaiian land snails to ensure their stories endure for many generations.” 

The public can view these rare snails at Bishop Museum’s 4th annual Kāhuli Festival on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, from 3 to 9 p.m. 

The Kāhuli Festival brings together research and conservation partners, cultural practitioners, artists, and the community to celebrate and reconnect with the rich biocultural heritage of the Hawaiian Islands. 

“Ke Kani Nei Ka Pūpū,” the theme of the 2025 festival, focuses on renewing and restoring cultural connections for conservation. It highlights the resilience of Hawaiian land snails in an ever-changing landscape. 

The public can enjoy cultural workshops, activities, and talks by cultural practitioners, authors, researchers, and conservationists. There will also be exhibits featuring local artists, live music, and food vendors on the museum’s Great Lawn. Captive rearing exhibits will feature live endangered snails from Bishop Museum’s Hawaiian Land Snail Conservation Program and the DLNR SEPP. 

Kāhuli Festival 2025: Ke Kani Nei Ka Pūpū, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, from 3 to 9 p.m. Reduced $10 admission for kamaʻāina and military, bishopmuseum.org.