Paryphanta

Taxobox
name = "Paryphanta" snail
status =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
subclassis = Orthogastropoda
superordo = Heterobranchia
ordo = Pulmonata
subordo = Eupulmonata
familia = Rhytididae
genus = "Paryphanta"
genus_authority = Albers, 1850
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text.

"Paryphanta", common name kauri snails, is a genus of large predatory land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Rhytididae.

This genus contains only two species, and both species are endangered, which means the genus is also endangered.

Distribution

This genus is endemic to New Zealand. Both species are only found in the district of Northland in the North Island of New Zealand: "Paryphanta busbyi" is found from Awanui to Warkworth and "Paryphanta watti" is found only in the far north.

hell description

The shell can grow to 80 mm in length.

Life habits

These snails are nocturnal, coming out at night from daytime resting places under leaf litter to forage for earthworms and other invertebrates.

pecies

* "Paryphanta busbyi" (Gray, 1840)
* "Paryphanta watti" Powell, 1946

References

* Powell A. W. B., "New Zealand Mollusca", William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
* [http://awcmee.massey.ac.nz/pdf_files/AWC_newsletter_4_SEPT_2006.pdf The Allan Wilson Centre Newsletter]