Allodiscus turbotti


Allodiscus turbotti is a species of land snail in the family, Charopidae. The species was first described by Baden Powell in 1948, and is endemic to Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands in New Zealand.

Taxonomy

The species was identified by Powell in 1948, based on a shell found by Evan Graham Turbott on Manawatāwhi / Great Island in 1946, among sparse pōhutukawa and kanuka forest. Powell named the species after Turbott. Gene sequencing noted that A. turbotti was significantly different to other members of Allodiscus, meaning the species may potentially belong to a distinct genus.

Description

Powell's original text described below:
Powell noted that the species resembled A. cassandra, but could be told apart by A. turbotti being much smaller in adult size, open umbilicate, and by the presence of more numerous radial ribs. A. turbotti differs from other members of the genus due to prominent axial riblets on its protoconch, and finer spiral threads. The species has a radula formula of ++1++.

Distribution and habitat

The species is endemic to New Zealand, found on three islands of the Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands group: Manawatāwhi / Great Island, Oromaki / North East Island and Moekawa / South West Island. The species is common on Manawatāwhi / Great Island, and less common on the other two islands. The snail lives in leaf litter of broadleaf and kanuka forests. Due to its preference for forest leaf litter, the species is significantly less common than A. cassandra.