New Zealand's archipelago is home to over 500 species of native land snails and slugs with a remarkable level of endemism; approximately 90% are found nowhere else on Earth. Many species have extremely small geographic ranges and are under under severe threat.

The most iconic group is the Rhytididae, a family of Gondwanan carnivorous land snails, some with shells reaching up to 90 mm in diameter. Within this group sit Powelliphanta species, known for their large, colorful shells and their predatory diet, which primarily consists of earthworms.