The total area inhabited by Newcomb's snails at any one location is remarkably small, from just 2 square meters (22 square feet; Makaleha waterfall, Hanalei subpopulations) to a maximum of 30 square meters (323 square feet; Makaleha Springs subpopulation). Microhabitat characteristics limiting suitable habitat remain unknown. Because known populations are confined to such small areas, they are highly vulnerable to eradication by unpredictable catastrophic events. Flooding due to hurricanes and tropical storms, catastrophic landslides, drought, infestation by introduced invasive species, and other localized phenomena that occur unpredictably could eradicate Newcomb's snail habitat across significant portions of the island. Recent examples of such recurring natural events include Hurricane Iniki (a Category IV hurricane that devastated