''Opacuincola dulcinella'' is a critically endangered species of freshwater snail endemic to
New Zealand.
Habitat
This snail has been found in two caves in very close proximity within a 1 km² area in
Pōhara
Pōhara is a rural locality in the Tasman District of New Zealand's South Island. The locality is northeast of Tākaka and southwest of Tata Beach. To the north is Limestone Bay, part of Golden Bay / Mohua
The official spelling was changed ...
, near
Tākaka. The population trend of this snail is unknown at present but it is regarded as potentially threatened by urban development and groundwater removal and contamination.
Conservation status
In November 2018 the
Department of Conservation
An environmental ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for the environment and/or natural resources. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of the Environment, ...
classified ''Opacuincola dulcinella'' as Nationally Critical under the
New Zealand Threat Classification System
The New Zealand Threat Classification System is used by the Department of Conservation to assess conservation priorities of species in New Zealand.
The system was developed because the IUCN Red List, a similar conservation status system, had some ...
.
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 in what is regarded as one location and is also classified as Data Poor under the threat classification system.
References
External links
Image of the holotype specimen held at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
{{Taxonbar, from=Q21786402
Gastropods described in 2008
Endangered biota of New Zealand
Gastropods of New Zealand
Tateidae