Powelliphanta gilliesi gilliesi

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Powelliphanta gilliesi gilliesi
A Powelliphanta of unknown species.
A Powelliphanta of unknown species.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Pulmonata
Family: Rhytididae
Genus: Powelliphanta
Species: P. gilliesi
Subspecies: P. gilliesi gilliesi
Trinomial name
Powelliphanta gilliesi gilliesi
E. A. Smith, 1880

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

[edit] Distribution

This subspecies is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. It is found only on the northern part of the Wakamarama Range in West Nelson, from near sea level to 2,000 ft.

[edit] Shell description

The shell has a depressed shape due to the relatively low height of the whorls, and there is a distinctly granulated parietal callus.

The coloration of the dorsal surface is dull brownish, crossed by numerous darker brown and reddish-brown spiral lines. The ventral surface is glossy, outwardly bright red-brown, but most of the base is occupied by a dark-brown, almost black, central zone, with a clearly defined outer edge.

The major diameter is up to 48 mm, and height up to 24 mm.

[edit] References