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 glenelgensis differs from other members of the group in the following combination of characters: shell small to medium in size, with straight spire outline and slightly convex whorls; penis pigmented on medial section only; coiled oviduct with initial U orientated longitudinally backwards.
This rather variable species is sympatric with up to three species of Austropyrgus (A. latus, A. tumidus and A. exiguus) throughout its currently recognised range. Its shell is smaller and has more rounded whorls than that of A. latus, and is larger and broader than that of A. exiguus.
Austropyrgus glenelgensis Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003
Class Gastropoda
Infraclass Caenogastropoda
Order Littorinida
Suborder Rissoidina
Superfamily Truncatelloidea
Family Tateidae
Genus Austropyrgus Cotton, 1942
Original name: Austropyrgus glenelgensis 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: Spring at Post and Rail North Camp, Lower Glenelg National Park, 5.4 km east of Battersleys Camp, Victoria.
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.
This species is known from a number of small streams flowing into the lower part of the Glenelg River, western Victoria and south-eastern 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.
