Paryphanta

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Paryphanta snail
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Orthogastropoda
Superorder: Heterobranchia
Order: Pulmonata
Suborder: Eupulmonata
Family: Rhytididae
Genus: Paryphanta
Albers, 1850
Species

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.

Contents

[edit] 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.

[edit] Shell description

The shell can grow to 80 mm in length.

[edit] Life habits

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

[edit] Species

[edit] References


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