Allodiscus tessellatus is a species of land snail belonging to the family Charopidae. Endemic to New Zealand, the species is found across the North Island and northern South Island in a range of forested and scrub habitats, often in association with rotting logs.
Description
In the original description, Powell described the species as follows:
The holotype of the species measures in height and in diameter, with some individuals reaching a diameter of up to . The protoconch has 1.25-1.5 convex whorls, and is translucent buff in colour. The teleoconch has up to 2.75 convex whorls, and is translucent/white with a pattern on red-brown to yellow-brown axial marks of irregular width on spire.
Taxonomy
The species was first described by A. W. B. Powell in 1941, using the name Allodiscus tessellata. The holotype was collected by A.E. Brookes at an unknown date prior to 1941, from near Rūātoki in the Bay of Plenty, at an elevation of above sea-level. The holotype is held by the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to New Zealand, found across the North Island and on the northern South Island, in the Tasman and Marlborough districts, as well as Nelson. The species is found in a range of habitats, including podocarp, broafleaf and mixed broadleaf/podocarp forests, ranging from sea level to subalpine scrub up to an elevation of above sea-level. It is commonly found in association with leaf litter and wood debris, especially in areas with limestone soil, including the transitional zones of caves. The species is often found near rotten logs.
Fossils of the species dating to the Late Pleistocene and Holocene are known to occur in lake beds.
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References