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 pagodoides differs from other members of the group in the following combination of characters: shell medium in size, with last whorl and base either evenly convex (females) or strongly angled to keeled (males) (see line drawings of shells); seminal receptacle located at anterior edge of bursa copulatrix, and the coiled oviduct and bursal duct join just behind pallial wall.
This species is among the more unusual members of the genus and indeed of the Australian tateid fauna, in that there is marked sexual dimorphism - males possess a prominent keel on the whorls, whereas females lack this keel.
Austropyrgus pagodoides Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003
Class Gastropoda
Infraclass Caenogastropoda
Order Littorinida
Suborder Rissoidina
Superfamily Truncatelloidea
Family Tateidae
Genus Austropyrgus Cotton, 1942
Original name: Austropyrgus pagodoides 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: Lake Sorell, Tasmania.
In lakes and 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.
Originally found in Lake Sorell but is now known from the northern end of Lake Crescent, Woods Lake, and Black Snake Creek near Woods Lake (K. Richards).
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.
