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3w ago

Rare New Zealand Snail Filmed Laying Egg Through Neck for First Time

The footage captures Powelliphanta augusta's unique reproduction, a breakthrough in a decades-long effort to conserve the endangered species.

Image
A snail laying an egg through its neck.
© New Zealand Department of Conservation
Little is known about the reproduction of Mount Augustus snail, which are dubbed the "giants of the snail world"

Overview

  • The Department of Conservation recorded the first-ever footage of Powelliphanta augusta laying an egg through a genital pore below its neck, confirming its unusual reproductive anatomy.
  • Powelliphanta augusta, a large carnivorous snail endemic to New Zealand, has been under a 20-year conservation program following the destruction of its sole habitat by coal mining.
  • The species is hermaphroditic, reaching sexual maturity at eight years, laying about five eggs annually, with each egg taking over a year to hatch.
  • The captive population in Hokitika now includes nearly 1,900 adult snails and over 2,200 eggs as of March 2025, with monitored reintroductions underway to establish wild colonies.
  • The conservation effort has faced challenges, including a 2011 refrigeration failure that killed 800 snails, but continues to provide critical insights into the biology and survival of this threatened species.