Biology:Powelliphanta superba
| Powelliphanta superba | |
|---|---|
| Powelliphana superba superba in its native habitat | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
| Order: | Stylommatophora |
| Family: | Rhytididae |
| Genus: | Powelliphanta |
| Species: | P. superba
|
| Binomial name | |
| Powelliphanta superba Powell, 1930
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Paryphanta superba (Powell, 1930) | |
Powelliphanta superba is a species of large, carnivorous land snail in the family Rhytididae, which is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Five subspecies are recognised,[1] all of which are classified by the New Zealand Department of Conservation as being Nationally Endangered.[2]
Taxonomy
Powelliphanta superba was originally described as Paryphanta superba by Arthur William Baden Powell in 1930.[3] The paratype specimens are located at Auckland War Memorial Museum.[3]
There are five subspecies of P. superba:
- Powelliphanta superba harveyi
- Powelliphanta superba mouatae
- Powelliphanta superba prouseorum
- Powelliphanta superba richardsoni
- Powelliphanta superba superba
Description



The eggs are oval and seldom constant in dimensions 14 by 12 millimetres (0.55 in × 0.47 in).[4]
Conservation status
Each of the five subspecies are listed as Threatened under the most recent assessment (2007) of the New Zealand Threatened Classification for Powelliphanta.[5][6] Four are listed as Nationally Endangered, while P. superba superba is listed as Serious Decline.[5][6]
See also
- List of non-marine molluscs of New Zealand
References
- ↑ Powell A. W. B., New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
- ↑ "New Zealand Threat Classification System lists - 2002 - Terrestrial invertebrate - part one". New Zealand Department of Conservation. 2002. http://www.doc.govt.nz/publications/conservation/nz-threat-classification-system/nz-threat-classification-system-lists-2002/terrestial-invertebrate-part-one/. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 , Wikidata Q58676532
- ↑ A. C. O'Connor (1945). "Notes on the eggs of New Zealand Paryphantidae, with description of a new subgenus". Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 5: 54–57. http://rsnz.natlib.govt.nz/volume/rsnz_75/rsnz_75_01_001590.html.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "NZTCS". https://nztcs.org.nz/reports/56.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "New Zealand Threat Classification System Database" (in en). https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q108424413.
External links
- Powelliphanta superba discussed on RNZ Critter of the Week, 26 January 2024
Wikidata ☰ Q7236138 entry
