Wainuia clarki

Wainuia clarki is a species of air-breathing predatory land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Rhytididae.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the North Island of New Zealand, but only in a few isolated areas, Taupo and Kaweka.

Habitat

This snail lives in leaf litter and under logs.

Shell description

The shell of this species is slightly conical, and relatively tightly-coiled. The shell is greenish-brown.

Life habits

This predatory snail is known to eat earthworms, but not amphipods. It can secrete a royal blue substance from the edge of its mantle.

Predators

This snail appears to be eaten by introduced Blackbirds and Thrushes.

References

• Powell A W B, New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
• New Zealand Department of Conservation
• New Zealand Department of Conservation Threatened Species Classification