Found, Milk White Bodied Snails Albino

Snail or slug body usually yellow to brownish black. However, animal species of molluscs found in Kahurangi National Park, New Zealand is very different.

Snail-type Powelliphanta hochstetteri hochstetteri bodied albino white as milk is found in the bushes by a group of pedestrians. According to one member, Bill Brough, that morning they found four wet due to rain. “Then, we saw a white snail. Wow! We are very pleased to see it, this is extremely rare,” he said.

Powelliphanta snail species found only in New Zealand, including the giant snail in the world. They are carnivorous, the animal’s favorite food is earthworms, also a fellow snail.

Photos taken tramping Waimea Club show, golden snail shell with characteristics which are quite rare. More special again, because her body white, not black as usual.

Powelliphanta experts from the Department of Conservation, Kath Walker said, for 30 years researching the snail, the only two times she discovered that albino.

The first time was 23 years ago in 1988, at Mt Burnett in Golden Bay. The second, recently through the photos. “From the photographs taken, the snail’s an adult, at least 10 years old. I was amazed, he was able to last that long,” he said. “His body is white which makes it possible to withstand the attack Weka (a type of bird) and other predators.”

Walker said albinism known to occur in many animal species around the world. It is the result of inherited genetic defect in the enzyme that produces melanin.