Story: Snails and slugs

Damaged snail shells

Giant snails can be attacked by a range of predators. From left, these shells have been attacked by a kea or kākā (parrots), a rat, and a wild pig.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PA-Group-00685)

Reference: EP/1986/2292/10

by Merv Griffiths

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Paddy Ryan, Snails and slugs – Conservation, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/12866/damaged-snail-shells (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Paddy Ryan, published 1 March 2009.