''Platymma tweediei'', often called the (Malaysian) fire snail, is the largest land

snail A snail is, in loose terms, a shelled gastropod. The name is most often applied to land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs. However, the common name ''snail'' is also used for most of the members of the molluscan class G ...

Peninsular Malaysia Peninsular Malaysia ( ms, Semenanjung Malaysia; Jawi: سمننجڠ مليسيا), or the States of Malaya ( ms, Negeri-negeri Tanah Melayu; Jawi: نڬري-نڬري تانه ملايو), also known as West Malaysia or the Malaysian Peninsula, ...

, living exclusively in the mountainous forests there. It is the only species in the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

''Platymma''. It is characterized by its black shell and orange to bright red foot. Although not officially endangered, the species is threatened by a combination of habitat loss and poachers; the vivid colours makes this species attractive to keep as a pet. However, the care for this animal is incredibly difficult, due to this species' very specific environmental needs.

Distribution

''P. tweediei'' has been identified living in tropical

Montane forest Montane ecosystems are found on the slopes of mountains. The alpine climate in these regions strongly affects the ecosystem because temperatures fall as elevation increases, causing the ecosystem to stratify. This stratification is a crucia ...

areas with altitudes in excess of 1,000 meters. Originally, ''P. tweediei'' was found in the Cameron Highlands area of

Pahang Pahang (; Jawi: , Pahang Hulu Malay: ''Paha'', Pahang Hilir Malay: ''Pahaeng'', Ulu Tembeling Malay: ''Pahaq)'' officially Pahang Darul Makmur with the Arabic honorific ''Darul Makmur'' (Jawi: , "The Abode of Tranquility") is a sultanate and ...

, but has since been found near the Temengor Forest Reserve and the Pergau River in

Kelantan Kelantan (; Jawi: ; Kelantanese Malay: ''Klate'') is a state in Malaysia. The capital is Kota Bharu and royal seat is Kubang Kerian. The honorific name of the state is ''Darul Naim'' (Jawi: ; "The Blissful Abode"). Kelantan is located in the ...

. To date, it cannot be ascertained whether they exist in isolation or their habitat covers the mountainous areas of the northern Peninsula in general.

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q107308088, from2=Q98439943 Chronidae Gastropods described in 1938 Invertebrates of Malaysia Endemic fauna of Malaysia