Powelliphanta
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 The shell of a species of Powelliphanta land snail.
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Powelliphanta is a genus of giant, carnivorous land snails endemic to New Zealand. They live mostly in tiny pockets of moist native bush in small areas of the North and South Islands, with the greatest diversity of species in the mountains of northwest Nelson. They are sometimes known as amber snails.
There are 21 species and 51 subspecies. The relationship between the species is complex, and it has been suggested that the group Powelliphanta gilliesi-traversi-hochstetteri-rossiana-lignaria-superba forms a ring species. In November 2003 a subspecies, thought to be extinct, was rediscovered alive on the West Coast; it had last been documented on the basis of shell fragments in 1934.
These snails are real giants, with shells up to 9 cm across (Powelliphanta superba prouseorum).
Their striking delicately-patterned shells come in an array of shades, from brown or red to yellow or black. The structure of these shells is very delicate, with a very thin layer of calcium carbonate, covered by a thicker chitinous outer layer. That is why these snails need moist surroundings. Otherwise the outer layer (periostracum) dries up, shrinks and cracks.
They are carnivorous and eat mostly earthworms or slugs. They are nocturnal. They need moist surroundings and live buried under leaf mold and logs. They can live for 20 years or more and are slow to mature, reaching sexual maturity around 5 years of age. They are hermaphrodites, having both male and female characteristics. They lay 5 to 10 large eggs a year.
Their origin goes back 200 million years to the continent Gondwana. Through their isolation on New Zealand, they have evolved a unique set of characteristics. They are a testimony for New Zealand’s unique biodiversity.
An unspecified species of Powelliphanta recently appeared on a New Zealand 40-cent postage stamp.
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[edit] Conservation status
The IUCN Red List states for Powelliphanta marchantii a lower risk, near threatened. But most of these snails are under serious threat or even in danger of extinction. They have no defense against introduced predators, such as Common Brushtail Possums, Trichosurus velpecula, and rats. Many recovery plans are being launched by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. The subspecies Powelliphanta gilliesi brunnea and Powelliphanta traversi otakia are the most threatened.
Since 2004, plans by Solid Energy to destroy the main habitat of Powelliphanta Sp.Augustus while mining for coal have caused controversy, and the species is critically endangered with only between 500 and 1,000 remaining.
[edit] Species and subspecies
- Powelliphanta annectens
- Powelliphanta fiordlandica
- Powelliphanta gilliesi
- Powelliphanta hochstetteri
- Powelliphanta lignaria
- Powelliphanta marchanti
- Powelliphanta rossiana
- Powelliphanta spedeni
- Powelliphanta superba
- Powelliphanta traversi
[edit] Undescribed species
- Powelliphanta Sp.Anatoki Range
- Powelliphanta Sp.Augustus
- Powelliphanta Sp.Baton
- Powelliphanta Sp.Buller River
- Powelliphanta Sp.Egmont
- Powelliphanta Sp.Garibaldi
- Powelliphanta Sp.Haast
- Powelliphanta Sp.Kirwans
- Powelliphanta Sp.Lodestone
- Powelliphanta Sp.Matakitaki
- Powelliphanta Sp.Matiri
- Powelliphanta Sp.Maungaharuru
- Powelliphanta Sp.Nelson Lakes
- Powelliphanta Sp.Owen
- Powelliphanta Sp.Parapara
- Powelliphanta Sp.Urewera
- Powelliphanta Sp.vittatus
[edit] Undescribed subspecies
- Powelliphanta gilliesi "Haidinger"
- Powelliphanta gilliesi "Heaphy"
- Powelliphanta rossiana "Fox"
- Powelliphanta superba "Gouland Range"
- Powelliphanta superba "Gunner River"
