Overview
Most pulmonate molluscs live on land or in freshwater lakes and streams; however a few are marine dwellers. They all breath by means of pulmonary sacs rather than gills.
Some have coiled shells, but many do not have a shell at all. Most pulmonates are both male and female (hermaphrodites) at the same time.
There are over 800 species of landsnails known from New Zealand.
Large snails (Powelliphanta) are found in bush areas throughout New Zealand and may grow to 90 mm across the shell - at least 21 species and numerous subspecies are recognised. Three species of giant flax snail (Placostylus), found in Northland and at the Three Kings Islands, may grow to 110 mm in shell length. Other terrestrial snails such as various species of Cytora and Solariella do not grow more than 3-5 mm in size, but are extremely common throughout New Zealand.