This is one of several species of Austropyrgus found in the southern half of New South Wales. They are all very similar, separated only by small differences in size and shape of the shells and in anatomical details. They have elongate-conic shells with adults having a slightly thickened aperture, and the operculum bears several pegs.
Austropyrgus nepeanensis Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003
Class Gastropoda
Infraclass Caenogastropoda
Order Littorinida
Suborder Rissoidina
Superfamily Truncatelloidea
Family Tateidae
Genus Austropyrgus Cotton, 1942
Original name: Austropyrgus nepeanensis 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: Stonequarry Creek, 50m above junction with the Nepean River, at Maldon, near Picton, New South Wales.
On water weeds, hard substrata (rocks etc.) and crawling on sediment. Can be locally abundant. Assumed to feed by scraping bacteria and microalgae. Presumed solitary capsules with single egg. Direct development.
Known from a few small tributaries of the Nepean River between Picton and Mittagong, New South Wales.
Most species of Austropyrgus are geographically isolated and have restricted ranges. This species is found in tributaries of the Nepean River in the vicinity of Picton and Mittagong.
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.
