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Paryphanta, common name kauri snails, is a genus of large predatory land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Rhytididae.
This genus contains only two species, and both species are endangered, which means the genus is also endangered.
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Distribution
This genus is endemic to New Zealand. Both species are only found in the district of Northland in the North Island of New Zealand: Paryphanta busbyi is found from Awanui to Warkworth and Paryphanta watti is found only in the far north.
Shell description
The shell can grow to 80 mm in length.
Life habits
These snails are nocturnal, coming out at night from daytime resting places under leaf litter to forage for earthworms and other invertebrates.
Species
- Paryphanta busbyi (Gray, 1840)
- Paryphanta watti Powell, 1946
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
