Powelliphanta superba


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, all of which are classified by the New Zealand Department of Conservation as being Nationally Endangered.

Taxonomy

Powelliphanta superba was originally described as Paryphanta superba by Arthur William Baden Powell in 1930. The paratype specimens are located at Auckland War Memorial Museum.
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.

Conservation status

Each of the five subspecies are listed as Threatened under the most recent assessment of the New Zealand Threatened Classification for Powelliphanta. Four are listed as Nationally Endangered, while P. superba superba is listed as Serious Decline.