The natural diet of the camaenid land snail Thersites mitchellae (Cox, 1864) was investigated by examination of the faecal contents of specimens collected from a range of substrates. The composition of faecal pellets from 22 snails obtained from three different substrates was determined. The results demonstrate that T. mitchellae has a generalist feeding strategy that varies with substrate. Fungal material contributed a high proportion of the diet, suggesting that coarse woody debris (a common fungal substrate) may be an important requirement for populations of T. mitchellae in rainforestassociated habitats. Thersites mitchellae was the first species for which a critical habitat determination was made under the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. This study adds to our knowledge of the biology of this poorly known land snail. Future studies would benefit from obtaining data pertaining to the timing and frequency of fungal dispersal and substrate preferences to gain further understanding about the availability of fungi as a food source.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research-Article|
November 14 2014
The natural diet of the endangered camaenid land snail Thersites mitchellae (Cox, 1864) in northern New South Wales, Australia
Jonathan Parkyn;
Jonathan Parkyn
1
School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Australia
Search for other works by this author on:
Agung Challisthianagara;
Agung Challisthianagara
1
School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Australia
Search for other works by this author on:
Lyndon Brooks;
Lyndon Brooks
2
Marine Ecology Research Centre, Southern Cross University, Australia
Search for other works by this author on:
Alison Specht;
Alison Specht
3
Australian Centre for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of Queensland, Australia
Search for other works by this author on:
Sapphire McMullan-Fisher;
Sapphire McMullan-Fisher
4
Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania, Australia
Search for other works by this author on:
David Newell
David Newell
5
Forest Research Centre, Southern Cross University, Australia
Search for other works by this author on:
Australian Zoologist (2015) 37 (3): 343–349.
Citation
Jonathan Parkyn, Agung Challisthianagara, Lyndon Brooks, Alison Specht, Sapphire McMullan-Fisher, David Newell; The natural diet of the endangered camaenid land snail Thersites mitchellae (Cox, 1864) in northern New South Wales, Australia. Australian Zoologist 1 January 2015; 37 (3): 343–349. doi: https://doi.org/10.7882/AZ.2014.042
Download citation file:

How do RZS NSW members access the full text papers?
If you are a current RZS NSW member (with publications), please access the full text of papers by visiting https://www.rzsnsw.org.au/member-centre/publications (you will be asked to log in to RZS NSW). Do not log in at the top of this current page for access.
Citing articles via
The discovery of the remains of the last Tasmanian tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus)
Robert N. Paddle<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Kathryn M. Medlock
Professional kangaroo population control leads to better animal welfare, conservation outcomes and avoids waste
George R Wilson<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Melanie Edwards
A Catalogue of the Thylacine captured on film
Stephen R. Sleightholme<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Cameron R. Campbell
Clutch size, incubation and nestling periods, and age estimation of nestling Red-tailed Black Cockatoos Calyptorhynchus banksii escondidus in the Western Australian wheatbelt
Denis A Saunders<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Ross B Cunningham