Diagnostic features

This species belongs to the Austropyrgus sparsus group, with members 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 ora differs from other members of the group in the following combination of characters: shell small, narrow, with convex whorls; bursal duct very short; seminal receptacle duct of medium length; albumen gland about ½ in front of the posterior pallial wall; ovary lobulate; coiled oviduct with initial U orientated dorsoventrally.

Classification

Austropyrgus ora Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003

Class Gastropoda

Infraclass Caenogastropoda

Order Littorinida

Suborder Rissoidina

Superfamily Truncatelloidea

Family Tateidae

Genus Austropyrgus Cotton, 1942

Original name: Austropyrgus ora 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 tributary of Stony Creek, Toorloo Arm, just to the west of bridge, 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 found in the small coastal streams and rivers of eastern Victoria and southern-most New South Wales.

Notes

Although most species of Austropyrgus are geographically isolated and have restricted ranges, a few - such as A. ora - have wider ranges.

This species is not found in sympatry with any other species of Austropyrgus.

Further reading