Potamopyrgus acus

Potamopyrgus acus is a critically endangered species of fresh water snail native to New Zealand.

Potamopyrgus acus

Nationally Critical (NZ TCS)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Clade: Caenogastropoda
Clade: Hypsogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Tateidae
Genus: Potamopyrgus
Species:
P. acus
Binomial name
Potamopyrgus acus
Martin Haase, 2008[2]
Synonyms
  • Hydrobiidae sp. 2 (M.174060)

Habitat

This snail has been found in only one location in a gully, on a very small and steep limestone bank, at Limestone Downs Station in the Waikato. This snail was first discovered in 1981 but several surveys in 2002 and 2003 has failed to find any further specimens. The area has been cleared for agriculture and is under threat of damage by cattle. It is possible that this snail is extinct.[3]

Conservation Status

In November 2018 the Department of Conservation classified Potamopyrgus acus as Nationally Critical under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[1] The species was judged as meeting the criteria for Nationally Critical threat status as a result of it occupying a total area of less than 1 hectare. It is found only in one location.[1]

References
  1. Grainger, N.; Harding, J.; Drinan, T.; Collier, K.; Smith, B.; Death, R.; Makan, T.; Rolfe, J. (November 2018). "Conservation status of New Zealand freshwater invertebrates, 2018" (PDF). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 28: 1–29 – via Department of Conservation.
  2. Haase, Martin (February 2008). "The radiation of hydrobiid gastropods in New Zealand: A revision including the description of new species based on morphology and mtDNA sequence information". Systematics and Biodiversity. 6 (1): 99–159. doi:10.1017/S1477200007002630.
  3. "Potamopyrgus acus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
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