Hadopyrgus ngataana | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
Order: | Littorinimorpha |
Family: | Tateidae |
Genus: | Hadopyrgus |
Species: | H. ngataana
|
Binomial name | |
Hadopyrgus ngataana Haase, 2008[2]
| |
Synonyms | |
|
Hadopyrgus ngataana is a tiny, transparent, and critically endangered freshwater snail, found only in a single stream in a cave in New Zealand.
This snail has only been found in one spot: in one pool, in a stream at the entrance of Maitai Cave, in the Maitai River Valley southeast of Nelson. It is one of a group of very small, blind, transparent freshwater snails found in caves or underground streams,[3] especially in Northwest Nelson, and like many of these species has evolved in just one small area.[4]
The tiny (1.7 x 1.2 mm)[5] snail was discovered by Frank Climo in the 1970s, but was considered to be just one form of another subterranean Hadopyrgus snail found in the Nelson area.[3][6] In 2001 Martin Haase and Christina Mosimann collected more specimens from Maitai Cave by washing and sieving gravel, and using both morphological and genetic evidence realised these belonged to a distinct species.[7] They scientifically described and named it Hadopyrgus ngataana in 2008;[2] the name they chose, ngataana, comes from the Māori words ngata (snail or slug) and ana (cave).[6]
In November 2018 the Department of Conservation classified H. ngataana as Nationally Critical, using the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[1] The species meets the Nationally Critical criteria because it is found in just one location, and occupies a total area of less than 1 hectare.[1] Because Maitai Cave is a popular recreational area, and the stream the species has evolved in is so small, the population of this critically endangered snail is expected to decline.[1]
While it is possible for freshwater invertebrates to be legally protected under the Wildlife Amendment Act 1980, neither H. ngataana nor any other New Zealand freshwater invertebrate has been protected.[8]