Paryphanta watti
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| Paryphanta watti | ||||||||||||||
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| Paryphanta watti Powell, 1946 |
Paryphanta watti is a species of large predatory land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Rhytididae.
This species is closely related to Paryphanta busbyi, but it became isolated and separated from it when Paryphanta watti's present range became an island. The area it lives in is now connected to the mainland by an extensive, largely sandy, isthmus.
[edit] Distribution
This species is endemic to the Cape Maria van Diemen and North Cape area of the North Island of New Zealand.
This species is classified by the New Zealand Department of Conservation as being in "Gradual Decline".
[edit] Shell description
This species is similar to Paryphanta busbyi but it has a slightly smaller, more depressed, shell, and is tawny-olive to warm black, never greenish.
Major diameter is up to 62 mm, and height up to 23 mm. Egg dimensions are length 14 mm, and width 11 mm.
[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
