Powelliphanta "Owen"

Taxobox
name = "Powelliphanta" sp. from Mount Owen


image_caption = A "Powelliphanta" of unknown species.
status = EN
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
ordo = Pulmonata
familia = Rhytididae
genus = "Powelliphanta"
species = Not yet undescribed

This is a yet-unnamed "Powelliphanta" species, provisionally known as "Powelliphanta" sp. from Mount Owen. This is one of the amber snails. It is an undescribed species of large, carnivorous land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Rhytididae.

This unnamed species is endangered.

Distribution

This undescribed species is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. It is found only on Mount Owen in the Kahurangi National Park.

Habitat

Its habitat is under litter and under the skirts of prickly shield fern, "Astelia norvosa", and bush tussock, in stunted silver beech forest, around the treeline at altitudes of between 1,250 and 1,500 m above sea level. It is also found under mountain flax and turpentine scrub.

This species is apparently mostly confined to calcium-rich soils on a marble substrate, but some also occur on calcareous mudstones and sandstones.

hell description

The shell has a reddish hue to the upper surface and, particularly on the base, dark reddish-brown axial stripes that are uneven and infrequent.

Predators

"Powelliphanta" sp. from Mount Owen is preyed upon by thrushes, hedgehogs and pigs, and the moist deep litter layer it lives in is under threat of being reduced and dried out by the actions of an array of introduced mammalian pests. The shell diameter is up to 38 mm, and the height is up to 17 mm.

Conservation status

"Powelliphanta sp. from Mount Owen is classified by the New Zealand Department of Conservation as "Nationally Endangered".

References

* Powell A W B, "New Zealand Mollusca", William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
* [http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/science-and-technical/tsrp49b.pdf Department of Conservation Recovery Plans]
* [http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/MultipageDocumentPage.aspx?id=39593 New Zealand Department of Conservation Threatened Species Classification]