Also known as the Polynesian tree snail or niho tree snail, the Partula snail (Partula nodosa) is actually one of several snail species of the genus—all of which are in danger of extinction. This particular species was once a common sight in Tahiti, but now the International Union for Conservation of Nature considers it extinct in the wild as the snail is primarily found in captivity (a few have been reintroduced into the wild, however, and further efforts to reintroduce the snail to its native range are underway).

This tiny snail is not much bigger than a pencil eraser. Its body—most of it a muscular foot—is bumpy and brown, and its antenna-like eyes are almost translucent.