Dominican Republic

During a family visit to the Dominican Republic in April 2014, a tour of the island was of course also made. It was not the intention to look for snails, but we have found snails in a number of places.

1. Los Haitises
2. Valle Nuevo
3. Puerto Plata
4. Cabrera
5. Bahia de Las Aguilas
6. Santo Domingo

1. Los Haitises

This remote national park on the northeast coast has been protected since 1976. Haitis means mountain range in Taino, the language of the island's original inhabitants. To the north, the park borders the Bahia de San Lorenzo and on the coast stretches the largest mangrove area on the island. The park is an important breeding ground for some endemic bird species such as the Ridgways buzzard, of which only about 200 birds still live.

Empty shells of caracolus excellens. In this place several shells, especially of adult animals with damage, lay just below a nest of the Ridgway buzzard. This was our first snail species on Dominican soil and also special because I have been breeding these animals for several years.

The place where the shells were found. On one side trees but also many open spaces.

A more general view of the environment.

2. Valle Nuevo

Valle Nuevo is located high in the Cordillera Central, a mountain range in the west of the Dominican Republic. In this region, the vegetation consists largely of pine forests and rugged grasslands. In winter the temperature can even drop below freezing here. This is the highest alpine forest in the Caribbean. The national park can only be visited with a 4x4. With a guide from the visitor center it is possible to take walks and you come to rivers or you have beautiful views of the mountains. By the way, some 400 rivers originate in this area.

Many of these slugs, verocinella sp., were found on the path between the pine needles.

A second animal, the color varied from brown to almost black.

The forest area where these snails can be found.

This slug stood out among the grass.

The grassland where the slug on the previous photo was found.

3. Puerto Plata

The biggest attraction of Puerto Plata, in the north of the country, is the Teleférico, a cable car that takes you to the top of the Montaña Isabel de Torres. In addition to a large Christ statue, there is also a botanical garden.

Although we did not find any live snails, there were still empty shells in a number of places.

Unfortunately, the shells were all damaged.

View of the botanical garden.

4. Cabrera

Cabrera, a small town in the northeast, was intended as a place to stay for only one night, but of course you will find snails everywhere.

After the night rain, this Bulimulus guadelupensis appeared next to the terrace.

Surroundings of the hotel.

5. Bahia de Las Aguilas

Almost against the border with Haiti, near Pedernales is Bahia de Las Aguilas. This is a very remote place but is said to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. And although I am less interested in it, there are also snails in the sea and at low tide they sit on the rocks on the beach.

6. Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo is certainly not a small town. Moreover, it is very busy with more than 3 million inhabitants who use a car or moped for all trips. Fortunately, there are also green, quiet places such as the botanical garden.

This marisa cornuarietis was found in one of the many ponds. This is an unwanted exotic.

The pond where the animal was found.

hoofding

hoofding detail