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Topic: Powelliphanta snail

	TerraNature \| High risk land snail translocation
		The carnivorous land snail Powelliphanta 'Augustus' is endemic to a 5 hectare area on the Mt Augustus ridgeline northeast of Westport.
		The land snails of today are the result of 80 million years of evolution of New Zealand's unique ecology, isolated from the rest of the world after breaking away from the Gondwana continent.
		Powelliphanta were previously known as Paryphanta, before being classified as a separate genus in the 1970s.
	www.terranature.org /snailTranslocation.htm (1595 words)

	Resource Consent Submission \| Save Happy Valley! (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-09-24)
		Powelliphanta snails near Mt Augustus were presumed to be Powelliphanta “patrickensis” but have recently been identified as a separate taxon.
		The number of live snails affected was estimated from the proportion of shells found in the surveys of mine-affected sub-squares (100) in relation to all those found outside the mine (1058).
		Snail numbers are not naturally high in the area identified as a possible site for the enclosure, and it is not clear if the environment can support greatly increased numbers of snails there, even if predator control was successful.
	www.savehappyvalley.org.nz /kath_walker (3903 words)

	Powelliphanta snail - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
		The relationship between the species is complex, and it has been suggested that the group Powelliphanta gilliesi-traversi-hochstetteri-rossiana-lignaria-superba forms a ring species.
		The structure of these shells is very delicate, with a very thin layer of calcium carbonate, covered by a thicker chitinous outer layer.
		But most of these snails are under serious threat or even in danger of extinction.
	en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Powelliphanta_snail (388 words)

	Forest and Bird Media Release
		Both Paryphanta and Powelliphanta are endemic to New Zealand, with the genus Paryphanta represented by a single species found north of Auckland, and the large genus Powelliphanta (at least 21 species and 51 subspecies) occurring from East Cape to Fiordland.
		With their large size and many forms, Powelliphanta snails represent the pinnacle of evolution of this distinctively Gondwanian land snail family.
		Because of the wide divergence of Powelliphanta from other Gondwanian land snails, it is thought that the ancestors of Powelliphanta were on the proto ‘New Zealand’ land mass at the breakup of Gondwanaland, 80 million years ago - along with ancestral tuatara, kiwi and moa.
	www.forestandbird.org.nz /mediarelease/2005/1216_highcourtsnailsdecision.asp (817 words)

	ConservationEvidence.com
		In the late 1970s a serious decline was noticed in the Nelson/Marlborough Powelliphanta snail populations and by the 1980s, it was suspected that the brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula, introduced from Australia, was a significant predator.
		Studies were required to implicate possums as the major snail predator and thereby justify control operations to enhance snail recovery.
		Snail population trends: Snail numbers were usually so low and monitoring so labour-intensive that sample sizes sufficient to determine population trends proved difficult to obtain.
	www.conservationevidence.com /ViewEntry.asp?ID=173 (460 words)

	Forest and Bird Media Release
		Solid Energy risks causing the extinction of the endangered giant land snail, Powelliphanta "Augustus", in its haste to mine the only known habitat of this ancient species, the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society says.
		An estimated 800-1000 snails may be present, although Department of Conservation scientists state that the population is likely to be lower than this.
		Snails should be translocated in several batches over several seasons and then monitored until at least breeding of the translocated and captive populations was confirmed."
	forestandbird.org.nz /mediarelease/2005/0929_seriskssnailextinction.asp (969 words)

	Beehive (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-09-24)
		The initiative seeks to co-ordinate ground-breaking efforts to preserve a full range of Powelliphanta snails, a genus which includes some of the largest snails in the world.
		Of the 21 Powelliphanta species and 51 sub species we know about, 40 of them are ranked as being of national conservation concern," Mr Carter said.
		To enable these snails to recover, predator numbers in key areas need to be reduced to very low numbers in the immediate future, " Mr Carter said.
	www.beehive.govt.nz /Print/PrintDocument.aspx?DocumentID=18774 (575 words)

	jeffpylenz.com :: (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-09-24)
		They are the sumo wrestlers of the snail world, as big as a man's fist and able to out-slide then suck up unsuspecting slugs and worms like humans eat spaghetti.
		Of the 72 species and sub-species of the Powelliphanta snail 40 are considered to be of national conservation concern, prompting the launch of a Government initiative to save them from further depletion.
		Snails marked as adults in 1979 at Surville Cliffs were found alive in 1991.
	www.jeffpylenz.com /modules.php?op=modload&name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&p=644&POSTNUKESID=3a14b6b6885efac6d0e0f8aed2e51918 (953 words)

	RSNZ: Powelliphanta augustus
		The following submission regarding the decision on the fate of the native snail, Powelliphanta augustus, is sent on behalf of the members of the Biodiversity Committee named below.
		It has not been ratified by the RSNZ Council and, as such, is not purported to be the view of the entire RSNZ†.
		the food sources and other ecological factors at the new site are balanced in favour of the snail) then re-establishment of the population may be feasible, but this needs to be determined first, via scientific trial.
	www.rsnz.org /advisory/biodiversity/snail.php (554 words)

	New Zealand Molluscs (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-09-24)
		These snails are mostly found in indigenous forest, and they predominantly eat other molluscs, worms and soft bodied invertebrates.
		The restricted distribution of land snails in some mountain regions is thought to reflect colonies that survived glacial effects from the Pleistocene ice age.
		For other snails, it is merely a last bastion, where they are safe from predation by rodents, pigs and birds, especially introduced birds such as flbird and thrush.
	members.fortunecity.com /nzbirding/molluscs-fish.htm (317 words)

	New Biodiversity funds for Nelson and Marlborough - Biodiversity
		In the Canaan area of the Abel Tasman National Park predators including possums, rats and mice are being targeted to protect giant land snails, forest and rare mistletoes.
		The Paturau Snail is unique to north west Nelson and struggling to survive in its last remaining habitat - a coastal forest area of only one third of a hectare.
		It is hoped that if the snail numbers reach this level that in a few years time some can be transferred to two other nearby sites, increasing the species’ chances of survival.
	www.biodiversity.govt.nz /news/media/archive/22oct00_nelson.html (942 words)

	Scoop: Mine Threatens Giant Snail Extinction - F&B
		The few snails that remain are in an area of sub-alpine forest and shrublands which the SOE plans to mine in the next 12 months or so,” she said.
		Powelliphanta “Augustus” was first found by members of the Nelson Botanical Society north-east of Mt Augustus in 1996.
		Powelliphanta snails vary greatly between species, most have very glossy shells, delicately marked with numerous bands, in many shades of red, brown, yellow and fl.
	www.scoop.co.nz /stories/PO0504/S00209.htm (1153 words)

	State of New Zealand's Environment 1997 - Chapter 9: The nature of NZ's biodiversity [Ministry for the Environment]
		It is dominated by plant, animal and fungal groups which arose more than 100 million years ago and which tend to be overlooked because of their lack of colour and size.
		The giant snails belong to the oldest family of carnivorous land snails on earth, having originated about 200 million years ago.
		Related to the giant snails are the giant leaf-veined slugs (Pseudaneitea gigantea) which, at 15 cm, are the largest of our native slugs.
	www.mfe.govt.nz /publications/ser/ser1997/html/chapter9.5.html (1287 words)

	New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz: Coal worth $50m puts snails at risk (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-09-24)
		Buller Conservation Group spokesman Peter Lusk said that while the coal lying beneath the snail habitat may be worth $50 million, the value of the unique snails could not be measured in dollar terms.
		The translocation of the Mount Augustus snails will pave the way for plans to shift a larger colony of related giant snails, powelliphanta patrickensis, for the adjoining Cypress Mine.
		Pizey said the snails were difficult to find in the mountainous scrubland but were believed to be limited to an area of less than 5 hectares.
	www.stuff.co.nz /stuff/0,2106,3378759a7693,00.html (449 words)

	Daily Excelsior... World
		They are among the largest snails in the world, meat-eating giants as big as a man’s fist which can live for 20 years and have a remarkable ability to overtake unsuspecting slugs and worms that comprise their normal diet.
		Most New Zealanders have never seen any of the 72 species of Powelliphanta which live deep in the country’s native forests, and their chances of doing so are diminishing fast.
		The snails are a favourite treat of other forest beasts, including Possums, wild pigs and rats - with surveys showing that a single possum can polish off 60 adult Powelliphanta in one or two nights.
	www.dailyexcelsior.com /web1/04feb03/inter.htm (3062 words)

	Mt Burnett dolomite quarry extension declined
		The land also contains a significant population of a nationally endangered giant land snail, Powelliphanta.
		In fact an entire subspecies of this snail is located within a two kilometre radius of Mt Burnett and nowhere else," Mr Carter said.
		The land sought by the company also contains a significant population of a nationally endangered giant land snail, Powelliphanta.
	www.vtce.org /extensiondeclined.html (998 words)

	New Zealand invertebrates: native animal conservation
		Flax snails usually live in broadleaf forest and scrub.
		Once widespread through Northland, the kauri snail now has a limited distribution in parts of Northland and on a few offshore islands.
		New Zealand's endemic Powelliphanta are giants of the snail world.
	www.doc.govt.nz /templates/summary.aspx?id=33169 (331 words)

	Forest and Bird Media Release
		Solid Energy's claim that an "emergency" exists which justifies its proposal to translocate a threatened giant land snail is ridiculous, as they are the ones threatening the snail's extinction according to the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society.
		Solid Energy's draft application for a permit to move the snails shows that the "emergency" is its own proposal to mine the last known habitat of the threatened giant land snail Powelliphanta "Augustus" in October this year.
		Solid Energy however, seems intent on moving the snails with or without the Department of Conservation's approval.
	forestandbird.org.nz /mediarelease/2005/0816_solidenergyisemergency.asp (578 words)

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