Initial observations of a population of Mitchell's Rainforest Snail Thersites mitchellae Cox 1864

Mitchell's Rainforest Snail Thersites mitchellae Cox 1864 is listed as ‘endangered’ under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, as ‘critically endangered’ under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and is on the IUCN Red List. Over the last 30 years, fewer than 20 live snails have been formally recorded in Museum and National Parks records. From the discovery of shells of the species, and a known habitat at Stotts Island in the Tweed River, it is understood that the species is highly specific in its habitat preference, occurring in ‘Lowland Rainforest on Floodplain’ and the margins of Melaleuca quinquenervia swamps in northern New South Wales, Australia. ‘Lowland Rainforests on Floodplain’ is itself listed as an endangered community. In this paper an initial description of the behaviour of the first substantial population discovered beyond Stotts Island is described. Like many land snails it was found to be nocturnal and sensitive to light. It appears to be highly sensitive to atmospheric humidity, and while active was mainly found on logs and leaf litter. Suggestions are made for profitable future studies that would provide a better understanding of its behaviour and habitat requirements, and consequently facilitate further discovery of the species and contribute to its conservation.