A living guide to Kauaʻi

Shells, Snails & Other Mollusks of Kauaʻi

Explore the island’s native and introduced species, habitats, watersheds and conservation work. Each record connects its description, images and sources with the interactive Atlas.

Page 2 of 6

• 

  Hawaiian Tiger Cowrie

  Cypraea tigris

  Bishop Museum TR29 records Kauaʻi station presence; iNaturalist RG observations 337488635 (Tunnels Beach, 2025), 310675006 (Poʻipū, 2022), and 203389640 (Salt Pond area, 2024; subspecies schilderiana) are island-georeferenced. WoRMS AphiaI

• 

  Carbunculous Nudibranch

  Dendrodoris carbunculosa

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii explicitly includes Kauai in the distribution of Dendrodoris carbunculosa. WoRMS AphiaID 537025 lists Dendrodoris carbunculosa as accepted; expert account distinguishes it from D. tuberculosa and notes historical photo

• 

  White-and-brown Dendrodoris

  Dendrodoris elongata

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii explicitly includes Kauai; iNaturalist RG observations 263958586 and 260031082 are dated 2025 at Salt Pond/Port Allen, Kauaʻi. WoRMS AphiaID 533873 lists Dendrodoris elongata as accepted; expert account notes older Hawa

• 

  Gem Doris

  Dendrodoris krusensternii

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii explicitly includes Kauai; iNaturalist observation 120107 documents a 2012 Kōloa Landing animal identified with expert Pauline Fiene as the first Kauaʻi record; observation 178324987 adds a 2023 island record. WoRMS Aph

• 

  Black Dendrodoris

  Dendrodoris nigra

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii explicitly includes Kauai; iNaturalist RG observations 254153620 (2024) and 259878903 (2025) are from Salt Pond/Port Allen on Kauaʻi. WoRMS AphiaID 139519 lists Dendrodoris nigra as accepted; expert account bridges hist

• 

  Tuberculous Nudibranch

  Dendrodoris tuberculosa

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii explicitly includes Kauai; iNaturalist RG observations 144957736 (Poʻipū, 2014) and 333534578 (Salt Pond area, 2026) have explicit island coordinates. WoRMS AphiaID 537016 lists Dendrodoris tuberculosa as accepted; expe

• 

  Lined Horn

  Diala semistriata

  Bishop Museum TR29 coastal-survey table explicitly records Diala semistriata in Kauaʻi station columns. WoRMS AphiaID 211927 lists Diala semistriata as accepted. Direct shallow coastal survey station evidence. Accepted species with direc

• 

  Dubious Bubble

  Diniatys dubius

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii explicitly includes Kauai in the distribution of Diniatys dubius. WoRMS AphiaID 599460 lists Diniatys dubius as accepted; expert account bridges Haminoea sp. 2 and probable historical Atys costulosa usage. Expert accou

• 

  Octagon Keyhole Limpet

  Diodora octagona

  Bishop Museum TR29 coastal-survey table explicitly records Diodora octagona in Kauaʻi station columns. WoRMS AphiaID 571921 lists Diodora octagona as accepted. Direct shallow coastal station survey evidence. Accepted species with direct

• 

  Eared Sea Hare

  Dolabella auricularia

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii explicitly includes Kauai; iNaturalist RG observations 104899883 (Poʻipū, 2022) and 8473676 (Kōloa, 2017) have explicit island coordinates. WoRMS AphiaID 208629 lists Dolabella auricularia as accepted; expert account br

• 

  Common Sea Hare

  Dolabrifera dolabrifera

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii explicitly includes Kauai; iNaturalist RG observations 199531433 (Poʻipū, 2024) and 12283871 (ʻAnini Road coast, 2017) are island-georeferenced. WoRMS AphiaID 224652 lists Dolabrifera dolabrifera as accepted; expert acc

• 

  Doriopsis pecten

  Doriopsis pecten

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii explicitly includes Kauai in the distribution of this species. WoRMS AphiaID 761890 lists Doriopsis pecten as accepted; WoRMS AphiaID 761891 marks Doris pecten a superseded combination and bridges it to Doriopsis pecten

• 

  Doris immonda

  Doris immonda

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii explicitly restricts the listed Hawaiian distribution to Kauai and French Frigate Shoals. WoRMS AphiaID 549227 lists Doris immonda as accepted; expert account warns it is not the taxon illustrated under Siraius immonda

• 

  Nucleola Dorid

  Doris nucleola

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii explicitly includes Kauai in the distribution of Doris nucleola. WoRMS AphiaID 594426 lists Doris nucleola as accepted; expert account bridges Doriorbis nucleola and probable Doris papillosa while noting possible color-

• 

  Mulberry Drupe

  Drupa morum

  HCRI Final Report records Drupa morum at Kauaʻi rapid-assessment stations KARA4 and KARA5; iNaturalist records 6515330 (Salt Pond coast, 2017) and 144743144 (Poʻipū, 2022 partial shell) provide later island evidence. WoRMS AphiaID 459085 l

• 

  Horn Drupe

  Drupella cornus

  Bishop Museum TR29 coastal-survey table explicitly records Drupella cornus in Kauaʻi station columns. WoRMS AphiaID 212155 lists Drupella cornus as accepted. Direct shallow coastal survey station evidence. Accepted coral-associated gastr

• 

  Hawaiian Periwinkle · Pipipi Kōlea

  Echinolittorina hawaiiensis

  Bishop Museum TR29 records Kauaʻi station occurrence; iNaturalist RG observations 17813013 and 17389649 are dated 2018 at Anahola, Kauaʻi with precise coordinates. WoRMS AphiaID 437367 lists Echinolittorina hawaiiensis as accepted. Observ

• 

  Bivalved Sacoglossan

  Edenttellina pseudochloris

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii states the species was first recorded in Hawaiʻi from Kōloa, Kauaʻi by Allison Kay on 1961-11-25 and includes Kauai in its distribution. WoRMS AphiaID 1827233 lists Edenttellina pseudochloris as accepted; WoRMS AphiaID

• 

  Luakaha Micro-snail

  Elasmias luakahaense

  iNaturalist RG observations 144367735 (2022-12-11) and 258224832 (Nā Pali-Kona Forest Reserve, 2025-01-10) have explicit Kauaʻi Island coordinates; the first states 'On ginger leaf.' MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 1380891 lists Elasmias luakah

• 

  Lobed Elysia

  Elysia lobata

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii explicitly includes Kauai; iNaturalist RG observation 193637890 is dated 2010-05-05 at the Salt Pond/Port Allen coast of Kauaʻi. WoRMS AphiaID 494457 lists Elysia lobata as accepted. Expert account gives a shallow 1-2

• 

  Ornate Sap-sucking Slug

  Elysia marginata

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii explicitly includes Kauai; iNaturalist RG observation 44650089 documents Elysia marginata during a 2020 night dive at Salt Pond/Port Allen, Kauaʻi; observation 244845111 adds a 2024 island record though its coordinate is

• 

  Neal's Sapsucking Slug

  Elysia nealae

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii explicitly includes Kauai in the distribution of Elysia nealae. WoRMS AphiaID 494460 lists Elysia nealae as accepted. Expert account reports animals at 1-2 m and 2-9 m, within shallow nearshore scope. Accepted species

• 

  Yellow Sap-sucking Slug

  Elysia obtusa

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii explicitly includes Kauai in the distribution of Elysia obtusa. WoRMS AphiaID 494464 lists Elysia obtusa as accepted. Expert account gives a 4 m (14 ft) shallow habitat record. Explicit expert island distribution, acc

• 

  Halimeda Sap-sucking Slug

  Elysia pusilla

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii explicitly includes Kauai; iNaturalist RG observations 194951700 (Kōloa Landing, 2012) and 178325139 (east Kauaʻi, 2023) have explicit island coordinates. WoRMS AphiaID 536474 lists Elysia pusilla as accepted. Expert a

• 

  Lamellar Disc Snail

  Endodonta lamellosa

  Fauna Hawaiiensis explicitly lists Kauai material attributed to Newcomb; Bishop Museum checklist carries the taxon. MolluscaBase and GBIF resolve Endodonta lamellosa as an accepted species; GBIF match confidence 99. Terrestrial land snail

• 

  Hawaiian Bugle

  Erinna aulacospira

  USFWS taxonomic account identifies the Hawaiian bugle as threatened and endemic to Kauai; Kauai watershed sources list it among endemic snails. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 1315468 retains Erinna aulacospira; USFWS uses the same name. Fresh

• 

  Bisculpted Clam

  Ervilia bisculpta

  Bishop Museum Technical Report 29 table records the species at Kauai station Ka4 (PDF p.126, printed p.118). MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 216457 resolves Ervilia bisculpta as accepted. The report is a coastal marine biotic survey; Ka4 is an

• 

  Tulip Worm Shell

  Eualetes tulipa

  Bishop Museum Technical Report 29 table records the species at Kauai station Ka1 (PDF p.110, printed p.102). MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 709533 resolves Eualetes tulipa as accepted. The cited station is part of the Kauai coastal survey and

• 

  Garrett's Murex

  Favartia garrettii

  Bishop Museum Technical Report 29 table records the species at Kauai station Ka2 (PDF p.117, printed p.109). MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 724682 resolves Favartia garrettii as accepted; author-citation differences do not alter the species co

• 

  American Lake Limpet

  Ferrissia californica

  Christensen (2016) states the former Ferrissia sharpi was reported from Kauai and recorded in numerous Hawaiian stream surveys. Peer-reviewed Bishop Museum paper demonstrates Ferrissia sharpi and F. fragilis are synonyms of senior name Fer

• 

  Wandering Snaggletooth

  Gastrocopta servilis

  Bishop Museum Occasional Paper 50 catalogs the species in the Kauai nonindigenous land-snail fauna. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 875186 resolves Gastrocopta servilis as accepted. Terrestrial; marine habitat limits do not apply. Authoritati

• 

  Cooke's Georissa

  Georissa cookei

  Bishop Museum Hawaiian checklist reports the species for Kauai. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 1325307 accepts Georissa cookei and records Georissa neali as its synonym. Terrestrial microsnail; marine limits do not apply. Authoritative islan

• 

  Kauaʻi Georissa

  Georissa kauaiensis

  Bishop Museum Hawaiian checklist reports the species for Kauai; the original species concept is explicitly Kauai-associated. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 1325308 accepts Georissa kauaiensis. Terrestrial microsnail; marine limits do not appl

• 

  White-margin Nudibranch

  Glossodoris rufomarginata

  Bishop Museum TR29 and a NOAA/HCRI Kauai shallow-reef report record the species; Sea Slugs of Hawaii explicitly includes Kauai; 2018 observations corroborate. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 559960 resolves Glossodoris rufomarginata as accepted

• 

  Caperata Land Snail

  Godwinia caperata

  Bishop Museum Hawaiian checklist explicitly reports the species in the Kauai fauna. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 1375725 retains Godwinia caperata as an accepted taxon. Terrestrial land snail; marine restrictions do not apply. Accepted tax

• 

  Haupu Land Snail

  Godwinia haupuensis

  Bishop Museum Hawaiian checklist explicitly reports Godwinia haupuensis in the Kauai fauna. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 1375727 retains Godwinia haupuensis as an accepted taxon. Terrestrial land snail; marine restrictions do not apply. Th

• 

  Newcomb's Land Snail

  Godwinia newcombi

  Bishop Museum Hawaiian checklist explicitly reports Godwinia newcombi in the Kauai fauna. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 1505963 retains Godwinia newcombi. Terrestrial land snail; marine restrictions do not apply. Authoritative island checkl

• 

  Strigate Auger

  Hastula strigilata

  NOAA/HCRI reef survey table records Hastula strigilata at a Kauai rapid-assessment station; a 2023 Kauai observation corroborates. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 217086 accepts Hastula strigilata. NOAA/HCRI Kauai stations were coral reefs at

• 

  Haurakia marmorata

  Haurakia marmorata

  Bishop Museum Technical Report 29 records Haurakia marmorata at a Kauai coastal station. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 594633 accepts Haurakia marmorata. The source is a coastal marine biotic survey and the marked Kauai station is within nea

• 

  Minute Gem

  Hawaiia minuscula

  Bishop Museum Hawaiian checklist and Occasional Paper 50 report Hawaiia minuscula from Kauai. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 875270 accepts Hawaiia minuscula. Terrestrial land snail; marine restrictions do not apply. Authoritative island and

• 

  Helenia apiculata

  Helenia apiculata

  Bishop Museum Hawaiian checklist explicitly reports Helenia apiculata for Kauai. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 1903542 accepts Helenia apiculata under the revised Hawaiian endodontid classification. Terrestrial land snail; marine restriction

• 

  Helenia binaria

  Helenia binaria

  Bishop Museum Hawaiian checklist explicitly reports Helenia binaria for Kauai. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 1903544 accepts Helenia binaria. Terrestrial land snail; marine restrictions do not apply. Authoritative checklist and accepted tax

• 

  Helenia laminata

  Helenia laminata

  Bishop Museum Hawaiian checklist explicitly reports Helenia laminata for Kauai. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 1903769 accepts Helenia laminata. Terrestrial land snail; marine restrictions do not apply. Authoritative island checklist verifie

• 

  Gem Top Shell

  Herpetopoma gemmatum

  Bishop Museum Technical Report 29 records the taxon at a Kauai coastal station; Kauai observations from 2010 and 2018 corroborate persistence. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 951880 accepts Herpetopoma gemmatum. Primary survey evidence is coas

• 

  Gold-margin Spanish Dancer

  Hexabranchus aureomarginatus

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii explicitly includes Kauai and gives firsthand Poipu and Hoai Bay Kauai observations; a 2025 Poipu record corroborates. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 549826 accepts Hexabranchus aureomarginatus and distinguishes it from H.

• 

  Variable Pheasant Shell

  Hiloa variabilis

  Bishop Museum Technical Report 29 records Hiloa variabilis at a Kauai coastal survey station. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 865355 accepts Hiloa variabilis. Station evidence is from a coastal marine survey within nearshore scope. Direct isl

• 

  Hiona exaequata

  Hiona exaequata

  Two Bishop Museum Hawaiian checklist treatments report Hiona exaequata and its subspecific concepts from Kauai. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 1423367 accepts Hiona exaequata. Terrestrial land snail; marine restrictions do not apply. Authori

• 

  Hiona kipui

  Hiona kipui

  Bishop Museum Hawaiian checklist reports Hiona kipui for Kauai. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 1422896 accepts Hiona kipui. Terrestrial land snail; marine restrictions do not apply. Accepted island taxon in the authoritative checklist; curre

• 

  Hiona meineckei

  Hiona meineckei

  Bishop Museum Hawaiian checklist reports Hiona meineckei for Kauai. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 1422897 accepts Hiona meineckei. Terrestrial land snail; marine restrictions do not apply. Authoritative checklist supports historical Kauai o

• 

  Hiona milolii

  Hiona milolii

  Bishop Museum Hawaiian checklist reports Hiona milolii for Kauai. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 1422843 accepts Hiona milolii. Terrestrial land snail; marine restrictions do not apply. The island checklist and accepted name verify historica

• 

  Hiona pilsbryi

  Hiona pilsbryi

  Bishop Museum Hawaiian checklist reports Hiona pilsbryi for Kauai. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 1422891 accepts Hiona pilsbryi. Terrestrial land snail; marine restrictions do not apply. Authoritative checklist supports historical Kauai occ

• 

  Hiona wahiawae

  Hiona wahiawae

  Bishop Museum Hawaiian checklist reports Hiona wahiawae for Kauai. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 1422892 accepts Hiona wahiawae. Terrestrial land snail; marine restrictions do not apply. Authoritative island checklist and accepted taxonomy

• 

  Warty Turban

  Homalopoma verruca

  Bishop Museum Technical Report 29 records Homalopoma verruca at Kauai coastal stations; observations from Lawai in 2010 and Kalihiwai in 2024 corroborate persistence. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 1643712 accepts Homalopoma verruca. Primary

• 

  Hypselodoris imperialis

  Hypselodoris imperialis

  Bishop Museum TR29 and Sea Slugs of Hawaii record the species on Kauai; two 2023 Poipu-area observations corroborate. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 597869 accepts Hypselodoris imperialis. Expert account reports rocky bottoms at 1-33.5 m, inc

• 

  Black Purse Shell

  Isognomon californicus

  Bishop Museum TR29 records the taxon at Kauai stations; 2017 Koloa and 2018 Kalihiwai records corroborate, with the Koloa record annotated alive. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 1476923 accepts Isognomon californicus. Primary source is a coast

• 

  Brown Purse Shell

  Isognomon perna

  Bishop Museum TR29 records Isognomon perna at Kauai coastal stations. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 208470 accepts Isognomon perna. TR29 is a coastal marine survey within scope; two 2025 Kauai observations are annotated dead and therefore do

• 

  Jorunna funebris

  Jorunna funebris

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii explicitly includes Kauai and cites a 2016 Lihue photograph; two 2023 Kauai observations corroborate. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 534383 accepts Jorunna funebris. Expert account treats the species as a shallow benthic r

• 

  Julia exquisita

  Julia exquisita

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii cites Alison Kay's live Koloa, Kauai record of 1962 and explicitly includes Kauai; a 2014 Poipu observation corroborates. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 215227 accepts Julia exquisita and the expert account discusses histor

• 

  Julia zebra

  Julia zebra

  Sea Slugs of Hawaii cites an early live Koloa, Kauai record and explicitly includes Kauai; a 2012 Moloaa Beach observation corroborates. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 492585 accepts Julia zebra. Expert account reports rocky habitat below 1 m

• 

  Kellia hawaiensis

  Kellia hawaiensis

  Bishop Museum Technical Report 29 records Kellia hawaiensis at Kauai stations Ka2 and Ka4. MolluscaBase/WoRMS AphiaID 876327 accepts Kellia hawaiensis. The records are from Kauai coastal marine survey stations within nearshore scope. Dir