Powelliphanta superba superba

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Powelliphanta superba superba
A Powelliphanta of unknown species.
A Powelliphanta of unknown species.
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Pulmonata
Family: Rhytididae
Genus: Powelliphanta
Species: P. superba
Subspecies: P. superba superba
Trinomial name
Powelliphanta superba superba
Powell, 1930

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

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[edit] Distribution

This subspecies is endemic to the north of the South Island of New Zealand. Its habitat is forest, at altitudes of between 1,500 and 3,000 ft in the West Nelson district.

[edit] Shell description

Powelliphanta superba superba is the second largest land snail in New Zealand (after Powelliphanta superba prouseorum, which it closely resembles). The shell is uniformly yellowish to old-gold in colour, with a smooth parietal callus and dark brown interior of the aperture.

The shell diameter is up to 80 mm, and height up to 40 mm.

[edit] Conservation status

Powelliphanta superba superba is classified by the New Zealand Department of Conservation as being Nationally Endangered.

[edit] References