Pondoland cannibal snail

The Pondoland cannibal snail, scientific name Natalina beyrichi, is a species of medium-sized predatory air-breathing land snail, a carnivorous terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Rhytididae.

Pondoland cannibal snail

Critically Endangered  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Panpulmonata
clade Eupulmonata
clade Stylommatophora
informal group Sigmurethra
Superfamily:
Rhytidoidea
Family:
Rhytididae
Genus:
Natalina
Species:
N. beyrichi
Binomial name
Natalina beyrichi
(Von Martens, 1890)

This species is endemic to South Africa. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

It is called "cannibal" because it preys on other snails.

References
  1. Herbert D. G. (2000). Natalina beyrichi. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 7 August 2007.

Further reading
  • Herbert, D.G. & Moussalli A. 2010. Revision of the larger cannibal snails (Natalina s. l.) of southern Africa - Natalina s. s., Afrorhytida and Capitina (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Rhytididae). African Invertebrates 51 (1): 1-132.


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