Austropyrgus eumekes Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003

Diagnostic features

Members of the Austropyrgus elongatus group are characterised by medium-sized shells with very elongate spires, a straight outline, and convex whorls.

Austropyrgus eumekes differs from the only other species of this group in the following combination of characters: the shell is narrower, with lightly convex whorls; the central radular teeth have 3 pairs of basal cusps and the ctenidium abuts the pericardium.

Classification

Austropyrgus eumekes Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003

Class Gastropoda

Infraclass Caenogastropoda

Order Littorinida

Suborder Rissoidina

Superfamily Truncatelloidea

Family Tateidae

Genus Austropyrgus Cotton, 1942

Original name: Austropyrgus eumekes 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: Darlot Creek at Princes Hwy, east of Portland, 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 known only from the only two locations along Darlot Creek, 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.