Powelliphanta gilliesi explained

Powelliphanta gilliesi, one of the "amber snails", is a species of large, carnivorous land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Rhytididae.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the West Nelson area of the South Island of New Zealand.

There are nine subspecies,^[1] some of which are listed by the New Zealand Department of Conservation:^[2]

• Powelliphanta gilliesi aurea Powell, 1946
• Powelliphanta gilliesi brunnea Powell, 1938
• Powelliphanta gilliesi compta Powell, 1930 – Nationally Vulnerable
• Powelliphanta gilliesi fallax Powell, 1930 – National Decline
• Powelliphanta gilliesi gilliesi Smith, 1880
• Powelliphanta gilliesi jamesoni Powell, 1936
• Powelliphanta gilliesi kahurangica Powell, 1936
• Powelliphanta gilliesi montana Powell, 1936
• Powelliphanta gilliesi subfusca Powell, 1930 – Gradual Decline

Life cycle

The eggs of this species are oval in shape and are seldom constant in dimensions, varying from 9×, to 9.75×, and 10×.^[3]

Notes and References

1. [Arthur William Baden Powell|Powell A. W. B.]
2. Web site: New Zealand Threat Classification System lists - 2002 - invertebrate - part one . . 2002 . March 3, 2010.
3. [A. C. O'Connor|O'Connor A. C.]