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Powelliphanta superba

Species of gastropod From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Powelliphanta superba
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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]

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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

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Powelliphanta superba shell
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Powelliphanta superba richardsoni shell
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Powelliphanta superba shell

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

References

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