Large limpet-like planorbids with either smooth or radially (i.e. spirally) ribbed asymmetrical shells. Heterostrophic; apical portion a vestigial spire, projects to right, consisting of an almost complete whorl. Apical region with poorly developed radial striations. Abrupt change between apex and main body of the limpet-shaped shell.
Mesocone of lateral teeth rounded with small denticles. The copulatory organ has a flagellum, and an accessory bursa is lacking. The penis is biramous, with a terminal stylet on one ramus, or uniramous with a subterminal augur-like fold. The bursa copulatrix is spatulate. A rectal ridge is absent (Walker 1988).
Ancylastrum Bourguignat, 1853
Class Gastropoda
Infraclass Heterobranchia
Megaorder Hygrophila
Order Lymnaeida
Superfamily Planorboidea
Family Planorbidae
Subfamily: Miratestinae
Genus Ancylastrum Bourguignat, 1853
Type species: Ancylus (Ancylastrum) cumingianus Bourguignat, J. R. (1853).(=Ancylastrum cumingianus (Bourguignat,1853)).
Original reference: Bourguignat, J. R. (1853). Catalogue des espèces du genre Ancylus. Journal de Concholologie 4: 169-199.
Type locality: Tasmania.
Synonyms: Legrandia Hanley in Legrand, W. 1872; Cumingia Clessin, 1882) Tasmancylus Iredale, 1926.
Although two species are recognised, their status requires confirmation as both occur sympatrically in Great Lake (Richards et al. 2018).
On stones in lakes of the Central Plateau of Tasmania.
Tasmania – lakes of the Central Plateau.
Albrecht, C., Stelbrink, B. & Clewing, C. (2019). Planorbidae Rafinesque, 1815. Pp. 181-186 in C. Lydeard & Cummings, K. S. Freshwater Mollusks of the World: a Distribution Atlas. Baltimore, John Hopkins University Press.
Baker, F. C. (1945). The molluscan family Planorbidae. Urbana USA, University of Illinois Press.
Beesley, P. L., Ross, G. J. B. & Wells, A., Eds. (1998). Mollusca: The Southern Synthesis. Parts A & B. Melbourne, CSIRO Publishing.
Hubendick, B. (1955). Phylogeny of the Planorbidae. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 28: 453-542.
Hubendick, B. (1964). Studies on Ancylidae: the subgroups. Göteborgs Kungliga Vetenskaps och Vitterhets Samhälles Handligar Sjatte Foljden B 9: 1-72.
Iredale, T. (1943). A basic list of the fresh water Mollusca of Australia. Australian Zoologist 10: 188-230.
Richards, K., Spencer, C. P., Barmuta, L. & Allen, J. (2015). Insights into the diet of trout in Tasmania’s central highlands lakes—an angler’s contribution to science. The Tasmanian Naturalist 137: 60-69.
Richards, K., Spencer, C. P. & Macfarlane, K. (2018). A biological investigation of the Great Lake Giant Freshwater Limpet, Ancylastrum cumingianus (Bourguignat 1853) and its larger cousin A. irvinae (Petterd 1888). The Tasmanian Naturalist 140: 161-173.
Smith, B. J. (1992). Non-marine Mollusca. Pp. i-xii, 1-408 in W. W. K. Houston. Zoological Catalogue of Australia, 8. Canberra, Australian Government Publishing Service.
Smith, B. J. & Kershaw, R. C. (1979). Field guide to the non-marine Molluscs of South-eastern Australia. Canberra, A.N.U. Press.
Smith, B. J. & Kershaw, R. C. (1981). Tasmanian Land and Freshwater Molluscs. Hobart, University of Tasmania.
Walker, J. C. (1988). Classification of Australian buliniform planorbids (Mollusca: Pulmonata). Records of the Australian Museum 40: 61-89.
