Austropyrgus aslini Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003

Diagnostic features

This species belongs to the Austropyrgus sparsus group, whose members are characterised by the following shell features: small to medium-sized shells, conical, with convex to slightly convex whorls. In females, the coiled oviduct is of an inverted U-shape or with two or more bends, loops or twists.

Austropyrgus aslini differs from other members of the group in the following combination of characters: shell small to medium in size, with straight spire outline, slightly convex whorls and elongate spire; ctenidium with 21–23 filaments; coiled oviduct and bursal duct join at the posterior pallial wall.

This species is found in sympatry with only one species of Austropyrgus (A. goliathus), from which it can be distinguished by its smaller, narrower shell with an elongated spire and convex whorls.

Classification

Austropyrgus aslini Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003

Class Gastropoda

Infraclass Caenogastropoda

Order Littorinida

Suborder Rissoidina

Superfamily Truncatelloidea

Family Tateidae

Genus Austropyrgus Cotton, 1942

Original name: Austropyrgus aslini Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003. In Clark, S. A., Miller, A. C. & Ponder, W. F. (2003). Revision of the snail genus Austropyrgus (Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae): A morphostatic radiation of freshwater gastropods in southeastern Australia. Records of the Australian Museum Supplement 28: 1–109. 

Type locality: Curdies River, at Nullawarre-Timboon Road, Victoria.

Biology and ecology

In streams on water weeds, hard substrata (rocks etc.) and crawling on litter and sediment. Can be locally abundant. Assumed to feed by scraping bacteria and microalgae. Lay solitary capsules containing a single egg. Direct development.

Distribution

This species is currently only known from the type locality in western Victoria.

Notes

Most species of Austropyrgus are geographically isolated and have restricted ranges, and this one is no exception.

Further reading

Clark, S. A., Miller, A. C. & Ponder, W. F. (2003). Revision of the snail genus Austropyrgus (Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae): a morphostatic radiation of freshwater gastropods in southeastern Australia. Records of the Australian Museum 28: 1–109.