Natural areas of Tutamoe Ecological District (3. Ecological character)

earthworm
dAtA deFIcIent
Earthworm rhododrilus agathis
An earthworm endemic to Waipoua Forest, part of O06/001 (Department
of Conservation Internal Files).
land snails
(Main text provided by Dr Fred Brook with SSBI records added for kauri
snail)
Acutely threAtened
Phrixgnathus murdochi (Nationally Endangered)
This snail is endemic to western Northland, and has been recorded from
two locations only: Waima (part of O06/001), in Tutamoe Ecological
District; and Rawene, in Hokianga Ecological District. Museum collections
suggest that this species was relatively common at both localities up
until at least the mid 19 th century, but no records are known from the
last few decades. Most of the original native forest at Rawene has been
clear felled, with only small, highly modified pockets remaining. A recent
survey of these failed to locate any P. murdochi, so there is a possibility
that the population at this location might have become extinct. The
current conservation status of the population at Waima is not known.
chrOnIcAlly threAtened
Amborhytida forsythi (Gradual Decline)
This small carnivorous snail is a Northland endemic with a patchy
distribution extending from the Aupouri Ecological District south to
the Tokatoka Ecological District. It lives in native forest and shrubland,
generally on the ground in litter and under wood, stones and groundlayer
plants, but also arboreal in epiphytes and pockets of trapped litter.
Amborhytida forsythi presently has a fragmented, relict distribution
resulting from forest clearance, but it is still relatively widely distributed
and locally common in the Tutamoe Ecological District.
Kauri snail – pupurangi Paryphanta busbyi busbyi (Gradual
Decline)
This large carnivorous snail is endemic to Northland and North Auckland.
It has a natural distribution extending from Kaitaia south to Brynderwyn,
with outlying populations at Hen Island and Warkworth. It lives on the
ground in native shrubland and forest, but also inhabits Pinus radiata
plantations, and rank exotic grassland adjoining forest and shrubland. The
overall distribution and abundance of this species has declined historically
as a result of land clearance, but it is still relatively widely distributed and
locally common in forest within the Tutamoe Ecological District. However,
local populations there are threatened by predation by pigs, rats, possums,
and possibly also hedgehogs. Kauri snail numbers have increased at Trounson
following intensive pest control (N. Coad pers. comm.).
PNAP reconnasance survey report
53