''Potamopyrgus acus'' is a critically endangered species of fresh water snail native to

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

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 Waikato () is a Regions of New Zealand, local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato District, Waipa District, Matamata-Piako District, South Waikato District and Hamilton, New Zealand, Hamilton City ...

. 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.

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 ''Potamopyrgus acus'' 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 only in one location.

References

External links

Image of the holotype specimen held at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
{{Taxonbar, from=Q21786410 Endangered biota of New Zealand Gastropods of New Zealand Gastropods described in 2008