Paryphanta
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Paryphanta, or kauri snails, are a small genus of only two species of large carnivorous land snails of the family Rhytididae, endemic to New Zealand. The shell can grow to 80 mm in length. The snail is nocturnal, coming out at night from daytime resting places under leaf litter to forage for earthworms and other invertebrates. They are endangered.
Both species are only found in the district of Northland in the North Island of New Zealand, Paryphanta busbyi from Awanui to Warkworth and Paryphanta watti only in the far north.
[edit] Species
- Paryphanta busbyi (Gray, 1840)
- Paryphanta watti Powell, 1946
[edit] References
- Powell A W B, New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
- The Allan Wilson Centre Newsletter
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