Powelliphanta traversi, known as Travers' land snail,[1] is a species of large, carnivorous land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Rhytididae. This species is endemic to the North Island of New Zealand between Wellington and Lake Waikaremoana.

Powelliphanta traversi
Powelliphanta traversi otakia in Te Papa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Order: Stylommatophora
Family: Rhytididae
Genus: Powelliphanta
Species:
P. traversi
Binomial name
Powelliphanta traversi
Powell, 1930
Powelliphanta traversi traversi at Lake Papaitonga
Powelliphanta traversi traversi in Prouse Bush, Levin, New Zealand

There are six subspecies,[2] all of which are listed by the New Zealand Department of Conservation as threatened:[3]

  • Powelliphanta traversi florida Powell, 1946Nationally Endangered
  • Powelliphanta traversi latizona Powell, 1949Nationally Endangered
  • Powelliphanta traversi koputaroa Powell, 1946Nationally Endangered
  • Powelliphanta traversi otakia Powell, 1946Nationally Critical
  • Powelliphanta traversi tararuaensis Powell, 1938Nationally Endangered
  • Powelliphanta traversi traversi Powell, 1930Nationally Endangered

The eggs are oval and seldom constant in dimensions 10 × 8.75 mm, 9.5 × 8.5 mm, 10 × 8 mm, 11 × 9 mm, 10.75 × 9 mm.[4]

Shells of P. traversi that have been predated by brushtail possums

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Mollusc Specialist Group (1996). "Paryphanta traversi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T16409A5703709. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T16409A5703709.en. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  2. ^ Powell A. W. B., New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
  3. ^ "Powelliphanta snails". New Zealand Department of Conservation. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  4. ^ O'Connor A. C. (June) 1945. Notes on the Eggs of New Zealand Paryphantidae, With Description of a New Subgenus. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand, volume 5, 1945-46, pages 54-57.