| Powelliphanta | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
| Species | ||||||||||||
|
Powelliphanta gilliesi P. hochstetteri P. lignaria P. marchanti P. patrickensis P. rossiana P. spedeni P. superba P. taranaki P. traversi and others | ||||||||||||
Powelliphanta is a genus of snail, native to New Zealand. They are sometimes known as amber snails.
There are 21 species; many of these have geographically defined subspecies. the relationships between the species are complex, and it has been suggested that the group Powelliphanta gilliesi-traversi-hochstetteri-rossiana-lignaria-superba forms a ring species.
Powelliphanta live in forests and are carnivorous. They are long lived (it has been reported that they live for up to 40 years) and slow to mature, having to be around 5 years old before they begin to breed. Populations are under threat from introduced predators such as Common Brushtail Possums (Trichosurus velpecula) and rats.
An unspecified species of Powelliphanta recently appeared on a New Zealand 40-cent postage stamp.