Rare albino flesh-eating snail found in New Zealand

A rare white-bodied giant snail has been found by members of the Waimea Tramping Club in Kahurangi National Park. The rare albino giant Powelliphanta hochstetteri hochstetteri snail, a "fascinating find", was spotted in the Flora Stream area during a tramping club party's recent trip, a Department of Conservation spokesperson said.

The snail had its characteristic golden brown-spiraled shell but with a body that was a glowing white rather than the usual deep black color. Motueka resident Bill Brough, who has seen quite a number of Powelliphanta snails in his tramps, was one of three people to see the remarkable snail, he said. "Our group had seen three or four snails already that morning as it had rained and they’d come out in the wet conditions.

"Then I saw the white snail and went 'wow'. We were excited to see it, knowing how extraordinary it was." Mr Brough said no patterning was apparent on the albino snail he saw which he described as being "off-white like Milky Bar white chocolate in color". Department of Conservation Powelliphanta expert Kath Walker said it was only the second instance of an albino Powelliphanta snail she had come across, in more than 30 years studying the native snails.

Powelliphanta snails, found only in New Zealand, are the giants of the snail world with striking spiraled shells in an array of colors and patterns. They are carnivores, their favorite prey being earthworms but they also eat slugs. The white snail grows up to 80mm across. The species is endangered due to predation by introduced pests.