science education resource

Snail (Giant Land)

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Powelliphanta superba
Snail (Giant Land)

Range

They are found in New Zealand.

Habitat

They live in the wet leaf litter on the forest floor in wetter high altitude forests (some species live on grasslands).

Body Traits

Their shells can be red, brown, yellow or black. This largest species can reach 3.5 inches across (the size of a man’s fist) and weigh more than 3 ounces.

Habits

They are active at night (nocturnal).

Diet

They are carnivorous and eat earthworms and slugs.

Predators

Predators brought by visitors to the island like rats, possums and pigs eat them. Their native predators include thrushes (small bird) and hedgehogs.

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District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Reproduction

Each snail has both female and male reproductive body parts (hermaphrodites) so can mate with any other snail. They lay 5-10 pink, half-inch long, hard-shelled eggs.

Snail (Giant Land)

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class:     Gastropoda
Order: ?
Family: Rhytididae
Genus:     Powelliphanta
Species: P. superba

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