The snail was first described in 1907, from three specimens found at Port Essington on the Cobourg Peninsula before 1850, although it was not found there since.
Attacus wardi is known only from Darwin, Black Point Cobourg Peninsula and Melville Island.
Continuing north-east along the coast, the Mermaid eventually passed the northernmost tip of Arnhem Land, reaching a point on Cobourg Peninsula that King named Port Essington.
After spares were sent out the flight continued until, over the Timor Sea and close to Australia, the engine began to malfunction again and the Vellore was wrecked in trees near the Cape Don lighthouse at the western extremity of the Cobourg Peninsula on the Australian mainland.
Iberian Peninsula | Wirral Peninsula | Cape York Peninsula | Mornington Peninsula | Peninsula Campaign | Malay Peninsula | Arabian Peninsula | peninsula | Korean Peninsula | Niagara Peninsula | Varna Peninsula | Antarctic Peninsula | Olympic Peninsula | Virginia Peninsula | Kamchatka Peninsula | Kenai Peninsula | Chukchi Peninsula | Sinai Peninsula | Kola Peninsula | Iberian peninsula | Gaspé Peninsula | Eyre Peninsula | Cobourg | Banks Peninsula | Baja California peninsula | Hel Peninsula | Delmarva Peninsula | Yucatán Peninsula | Liaodong Peninsula | Cotentin Peninsula |