N.Z. NATURALIST’S FUND

Grey River Argus, 11 February 1938, Page 12

N.Z. NATURALIST’S FUND

NEW VARIETIES OF SNAILS.

(Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, February. 9. Several new varieties of highly primitive carnivorous New Zealand snails, obtained from their habitat in the high country, have been received by Mr. A. W. B. Powell, assistant director of the Auckland War Memorial Museum. They have highlypolished shells of rather more than an inch and a half in diameter, and are greenish yellow in colour. Their discovery is regarded as indicating a rich field for research of naturalist in areas which recent improve • ments in access have made much less remote. In a monograph written by Mr. Powell in 1913 he developed the theory that there were unknown varieties of snails, isolated and peculiar to certain peaks, where most conditions provided an existence more favourable than low hills or plains. At that time only five New Zealand species of the genus were known, there being two other varieties in Victoria and one in Tasmania. Since then much research has been carried out, the assistance of prospectors and others being obtained, and the number of known species in New Zealand has been increased to 23. There are allied species to the two just discovered with shells four and a half inches in diameter. They are all strikingly ornamental in appearance. One of the varieties just discovered was found by Mr A. C. O’Connor in the Tararuas. As rather similar varieties have previously been found on fairly low country near Levin, and also on the Ruahines, the latest discovery is interesting as bridging the gap between the two regions. Another species just discovered and forwarded to Mr. Powell by Mr. O’Connor, was found on Mount Arthur at the head of jthe Karamea in Westland. It is proposed to name one of the species after Mr. O’Connor.