Climocella akarana
Species of land snail
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Climocella akarana is a species of land snail belonging to the family Charopidae.[2] Endemic to New Zealand, the species is found in the upper North Island, often in association with decomposing logs.
| Climocella akarana | |
|---|---|
| |
| Holotype | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Stylommatophora |
| Superfamily: | Punctoidea |
| Family: | Charopidae |
| Genus: | Climocella |
| Species: | C. akarana |
| Binomial name | |
| Climocella akarana Goulstone, 1996 | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Description
C. akarana has a shell that measures 2.8 mm (0.11 in) by 1.5 mm (0.059 in), which has up to four subdiscoidal whorls and has a spire that is typically slightly raised. The shells have a protoconch of 1.5 whorls, and 9-10 spiral lirae which are crowded near the centre. The species can vary in appearance based on location, such as specimens collected from Rangitoto which have bright colour markings.[1]
Taxonomy
The species was first described by James Frederick Goulstone in 1995, naming the species after the Māori language name for Auckland.[1] Goulstone collected the holotype of the species from Ngaheretuku Reserve near Clevedon on 1 October 1985, which is held by the Auckland War Memorial Museum.[3][4] In 1996, Goulstone described seven new species of Climocella, many of which included specimens that had previously been identified as C. akarana.[5]
Distribution and habitat
C. akarana is endemic to New Zealand, found on the North Island northwards from Taranaki north, on Great Mercury Island and the Hauraki Gulf islands.[6][1] The species is the most common member of Climocella found in Auckland.[1] The species is typically found in association with decomposing logs,[7] however specimens found on Rangitoto and in the crater of Māngere Mountain live in exposed dry scoria rocks.[1]
Gallery
Underside view of holotype
Side view of holotype
