Fijidoma maculata is a freshwater snail (gastropod), and reaches a height of 14 mm in size. It has a small sharp spire (tall narrow pointed structure at the top of the shell – much like a turban, which is often eroded) and a large spherical body whorl.

It is cream in colour with red-brown broken lines and a neritid shape. The operculum is oval in shape and has a red-brown colour

Habitat Ecology and Behaviour

There is not much known on this species. They can be found in patches on stones in fast flowing current. They feed on algal film and are eaten by fish.

Threats

Floods caused by cyclones have been known to contribute to population declines of this gastropod: in December 1984 the population in the Wainibuka River had a density of 1475 individuals per m2. After the two cyclones in January 1985, the population was reduced to just 250 individuals per m2. The recovery of this population was very slow, increasing to only 500 m² in January 1986.

Another danger to this endemic gastropod is siltation caused by road making, logging, mining, and cultivation of very steep hillsides. The population at Laselevu was nearly wiped out after the tunnel down from Monasavu was cleaned in 2005.

Conservation Status

The conservation status of this endemic gastropod is unknown. It is not included in the ESP Act (2002) or the IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species or the CITES Appendices. There is relatively little known of its ecology highlighting the urgent need for research.

Fiji freshwater invertebrate populations are particularly threatened by the fact that there are very few taxonomists available in Fiji to identify and study them. Dr. Alison Haynes, arguably Fiji’s only expert on freshwater snails has written a guide to the Freshwater Snails of the Tropical Pacific Islands, but this is not enough to ensure the survival and conservation of Fiji’s snails, particularly those that are vulnerable to the on-going changes in river systems. Deforestation, gravel dredging and the lack of experts on our freshwater invertebrates could easily see the extinction of our endemic and native species without having been documented or studied.

Remarks and Cultural Significance

The conservation status of this endemic gastropod is unknown. It is not included in the ESP Act (2002) or the IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species or the CITES Appendices. There is relatively little known of its ecology highlighting the urgent need for research.

Fiji freshwater invertebrate populations are particularly threatened by the fact that there are very few taxonomists available in Fiji to identify and study them. Dr. Alison Haynes, arguably Fiji’s only expert on freshwater snails has written a guide to the Freshwater Snails of the Tropical Pacific Islands, but this is not enough to ensure the survival and conservation of Fiji’s snails, particularly those that are vulnerable to the on-going changes in river systems. Deforestation, gravel dredging and the lack of experts on our freshwater invertebrates could easily see the extinction of our endemic and native species without having been documented or studied.

References

• Haynes (1985),
  Haynes (1998),
  Haynes (2001);
  Haynes (2005);
  Haynes and Kenchington (1991). 

  Front Page Photo: Alison Haynes from Haynes (2001).