Powelliphanta superba superba

Taxobox
name = "Powelliphanta superba superba"


image_caption = A "Powelliphanta" of unknown species.
image_width = 250
status = EN
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
ordo = Pulmonata
familia = Rhytididae
genus = "Powelliphanta"
species = "P. superba"
subspecies = "P. superba superba"
trinomial = "Powelliphanta superba superba"
trinomial_authority = Powell, 1930

"Powelliphanta superba superba", known as one of the amber snails, is a subspecies of large, carnivorous land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Rhytididae.

Distribution

This subspecies is endemic to the north of the South Island of New Zealand. Its habitat is forest, at altitudes of between 1,500 and 3,000 ft in the West Nelson district.

hell description

"Powelliphanta superba superba" is the second largest land snail in New Zealand (after "Powelliphanta superba prouseorum", which it closely resembles). The shell is uniformly yellowish to old-gold in colour, with a smooth parietal callus and dark brown interior of the aperture.

The shell diameter is up to 80 mm, and height up to 40 mm.

Conservation status

"Powelliphanta superba superba" is classified by the New Zealand Department of Conservation as being "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/templates/MultipageDocumentPage.aspx?id=39593 New Zealand Department of Conservation Threatened Species Classification]