Powelliphanta superba
Species of gastropod
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
| Powelliphanta superba | |
|---|---|
| |
| Powelliphana superba superba in its native habitat | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Stylommatophora |
| Family: | Rhytididae |
| Genus: | Powelliphanta |
| Species: | P. superba |
| Binomial name | |
| Powelliphanta superba Powell, 1930 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Paryphanta superba (Powell, 1930) | |
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]
