Succinea archeyi
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Succinea archeyi |
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Succinea archeyi Powell, 1933 |
Succinea archeyi is a rare terrestrial gastropod mollusc in the family Succineidae, endemic to Northland in the North Island of New Zealand. It is found from Cape Maria van Diemen to Cape Kidnappers, both as subfossils and in a few surviving colonies. Its habitat is coastal sand dunes within 600 ft of the beach. It is the only Succinea species in New Zealand.
The shell is rather small, thin and fragile. The spire is rather prominent, three quarters the height of the aperture. The whorls are strongly convex, rapidly increasing. Colour is creamy-white under a yellowish-olive to pale orange periostracum.
This is an annual snail, achieving its adult growth during winter rains that promote the growth of its food plant, the alga Anabaena. From late spring to autumn conditions on the dunes are too dry for the alga, which dries up, and only dead bleached snail shells are to be found on the surface. During the dry period continuity is achieved by the young snails working their way down amongst the roots of Spinifex.
Height is up to 12 mm.
Succinea archeyi is classified by the New Zealand Department of Conservation as being in Serious Decline.
[edit] References
- Powell A W B, New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
- New Zealand Department of Conservation Threatened Species Classification