Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Sub-order: Pulmonata
Family: Camaenidae
Genus: Thersites
Species: mitchellae
Critically Endangered [ECPB Act, Australian Government] due to habitat clearance.
Mitchell’s Rainforest Snail, Thersites mitchellae, is a large native land snail with a shell up to 55 mm wide and 50 mm high, triangular in profile and with a thickened lip. The shell is yellowish in colour with broad brown to dark brown spiral bands. The body colour is black with a thin lighter line along the back.
Found in remnant vegetation on the coastal plain between the Richmond River and Tweed River on the NSW north coast, it has also been recorded from some adjacent mid-elevation areas including Wilsons River and Mount Jerusalem.
Its habitat includes:
- Remnant areas of lowland subtropical rainforest and swamp forest on alluvial soils. Slightly higher ground around the edges of wetlands with palms and fig trees are particularly favoured habitat.
- Typically found amongst leaf litter on the forest floor, and occasionally under bark in trees.
- Active at night and feeds on leaf litter, fungi and lichen.
Additional Information:
Mitchell’s Rainforest Snail Thersites mitchellae Recovery Plan
Facts About Snails 