| Potamopyrgus oppidanus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Littorinimorpha |
| Family: | Tateidae |
| Genus: | Potamopyrgus |
| Species: | P. oppidanus |
| Binomial name | |
| Potamopyrgus oppidanus | |
Potamopyrgus oppidanus is a species of freshwater gastropod mollusk in the family Tateidae. [3] [4] It is endemic to only one area in the Wellington Town Belt of New Zealand.
This species was first described by Martin Haase in 2008 using specimens collected in a stream in Wadestown in Wellington. [3] The holotype specimen is held at the National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. [5]
This species is approximately 3 mm in length and just over 1 mm in width. [4] The shell is light brown in colour and semi transparent. The colour of the mantle can be patchy and there are two black stripes on the head of the snail. [3]
P. oppidanus is endemic to New Zealand and has only be found on Te Ahumairangi Hill in the town belt of Wellington. [6] The species was first found in a fountain near Grant Road where it intersects with Wadestown Road. The stream near the fountain was subsequently rerouted into a manmade stream bed and the snails can no longer be found there. [3]
P. oppidanus lives in damp shaded areas in undisturbed leaf litter, stones and woody detritus. [3] [7]
This species has a "Nationally Critical" conservation status under the Department of Conservation threat classification system. [2] It has been given that status as the total area of occupancy of this species is less than 1 ha (0.01 km2) and it is only found in one location. [2]
P. oppidanus has also been classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as critically endangered. [1] It has a decreasing population and is only found in one location. [1] The IUCN considers P. oppidanus as under threat from residential and commercial development, ecosystem modification, decline and fragmentation, the possibility of fire and use of fire suppressants, as well as the possibility of pollution in the freshwater habitat of the species. [1] The IUCN recommends that the known site and the surrounding vegetation be protected and that research be undertaken into the distribution of the species as well as life history and ecology as well as threats to the species. [1]
A recent survey of the species indicates it is declining in population. It has been argued that the building of illegal mountain bike tracks through its habitat is having a detrimental effect on its survival. [6] [7] Tradescantia fluminensis is also contributing to this decline as the weed is smothering the snail habitat. [7]
The weka, also known as the Māori hen or woodhen is a flightless bird species of the rail family. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is the only extant member of the genus Gallirallus. Four subspecies are recognized but only two (northern/southern) are supported by genetic evidence.
Echyridella menziesii, the New Zealand freshwater mussel, also known by its Māori names kākahi, kāeo, and torewai, is a species of freshwater mussel endemic to New Zealand. E. menziesii is an aquatic bivalve mollusc in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.
The small-scaled skink is a species of skink in the family Scincidae. The first specimen was captured in 1971 on Motutaiko Island, Lake Taupō but it is now known to be endemic to the central North Island of New Zealand in small population pockets. The holotype is in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
The New Zealand bittern is an extinct and enigmatic species of heron in the family Ardeidae. It was endemic to New Zealand and was last recorded alive in the 1890s.
The Pitt shag, also known as the Pitt Island shag or Featherstone's shag, is a species of bird in the family Phalacrocoracidae. It is endemic to Pitt Island where its natural habitats are open seas and rocky shores. The bird with the color of a dark body, gray chest, yellow eyes and feet can be found in small groups in their breeding habitat or alone within 18 km from their territory searching for food. The species was close to extinction in 1905 but actions of conservation have been done ever since. The Pitt shag is threatened by habitat loss due to predation and climate change causing a decline from 1997 to 2012, but there is a recovery plan by the Department of Conservation.
The roughskin catshark is a species of catshark in the family Scyliorhinidae found near Australia and New Zealand. Its natural habitat is the open seas. This species belongs to a genus of poorly known deep-water catsharks.
The leopard chimaera, Chimaera panthera, is a species of fish in the family Chimaeridae endemic to New Zealand. Its natural habitat is open seas. This species is considered rare and any specimens obtained should be sent to the New Zealand National Fish Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Te Ahumairangi Hill is a hill running for over 100 hectares through the Town Belt of Wellington, New Zealand. It was renamed Te Ahumairangi Hill as part of the Port Nicholson Block Claims Settlement Act 2009. The suburb of Wadestown lies to the north, with Wilton, and Northland to the west and south-west. Te Ahumairangi lies within Thorndon which continues to its south-east.
Platyptilia hokowhitalis is a species of moth in the family Pterophoridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been classified as Data Deficient by the Department of Conservation.
The Burgan skink is a nationally endangered species of skink native to New Zealand. It was described from a specimen found near the Burgan Stream, in the Rock and Pillar Range, Central Otago.
The Eyres skink is a nationally vulnerable species of skink native to New Zealand. It is named in honour of the location of its habitat, the Eyre Mountains.
The Nevis skink is a nationally vulnerable species of skink native to New Zealand. It is named in honour of the location of its habitat, the Nevis valley.
Catapyrgus sororius is a critically endangered species of fresh water snail endemic to New Zealand.
Hadopyrgus ngataana is a tiny, transparent, and critically endangered freshwater snail, found only in a single stream in a cave in New Zealand.
Hadopyrgus rawhiti is a critically endangered species of freshwater snail native to New Zealand.
Opacuincola cervicesmadentes is a critically endangered species of freshwater snail endemic to New Zealand.
Opacuincola dulcinella is a critically endangered species of freshwater snail endemic to New Zealand.
Opacuincola eduardstraussi is a critically endangered species of fresh water snail native to New Zealand.
Potamopyrgus acus is a critically endangered species of fresh water snail native to New Zealand.
Potamopyrgus doci is a critically endangered species of fresh water snail native to New Zealand.
