Powelliphanta augusta
| Powelliphanta augusta | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| A live Powelliphanta augusta from the upper Waimangaroa River | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| (unranked): |
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura |
| Superfamily: | Rhytidoidea |
| Family: | Rhytididae |
| Genus: | Powelliphanta |
| Species: | P. augusta |
| Binomial name | |
|
Powelliphanta augusta Walker, Trewick & Barker, 2008 |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Powelliphanta "Augustus" |
|
clade Euthyneura
clade Panpulmonata
clade Eupulmonata
clade Stylommatophora
informal group Sigmurethra
Powelliphanta "Augustus"
Powelliphanta augusta, previously provisionally known as Powelliphanta "Augustus", is a species of amber snail, a large, carnivorous land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Rhytididae.
The species is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. It was found only on the Mount Augustus ridgeline northeast of Westport, which has since been removed by mining operations of the state-owned company Solid Energy.
The species was first discovered in 1996 by members of the Nelson Botanical Society, however, the Department of Conservation was unaware of its existence until 2004. Department of Conservation scientists initially thought that there appeared to be less than 1,000 of these snails.
The eggs are between 5 and 6 mm in diameter, with a calcium shell.
The species is listed as Nationally Critical on the New Zealand Threat Classification System.
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Wikipedia