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 fonscultus differs from other members of the group in the following combination of characters: shell small, with slightly convex whorls and straight spire outline, inner lip of aperture firmly adhering to parietal wall; seminal vesicle slightly undulating over stomach; ¼ or less to about 1/3 of the albumen gland in front of posterior pallial wall.
This species has been found in sympatry with one species of Austropyrgus (A. latus) throughout its currently recognised range. It is distinguished from A. latus by its much smaller size and convex whorls.
Austropyrgus fonscultus Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003
Class Gastropoda
Infraclass Caenogastropoda
Order Littorinida
Suborder Rissoidina
Superfamily Truncatelloidea
Family Tateidae
Genus Austropyrgus Cotton, 1942
Original name: Austropyrgus fonscultus 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: Small springs on property of B.S. Milstead, north of Umpherstone Bay, South Australia.
In streams and springs 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.
This species is found in the small streams and large springs associated with the limestone sinkholes distributed in south-eastern corner of South Australia.
Most species of Austropyrgus are geographically isolated and have restricted ranges, and this one is no exception.
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.
