Austropyrgus praecipitis Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003

Diagnostic features

This species belongs to the Austropyrgus rectus group, with members characterised by small to medium sized, narrow to broad shells, with spires of average length to very elongate, a straight outline and typically flattened to slightly convex whorls. The coiled oviduct has one or more bends, loops or twists.

Austropyrgus praecipitis differs from the other members of this group in the following combination of characters: shell medium in size, spire elongate to average length, whorls slightly convex; pallial vas deferens S-shaped at prostate gland; bursal duct with twist.

This species is sympatric with A. lochi, from which it can be distinguished by its much larger, broader shell and slightly more convex whorls.

Classification

Austropyrgus praecipitis Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003

Class Gastropoda

Infraclass Caenogastropoda

Order Littorinida

Suborder Rissoidina

Superfamily Truncatelloidea

Family Tateidae

Genus Austropyrgus Cotton, 1942

Original name: Austropyrgus praecipitis 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: . Streams at Table Cape Lighthouse, Tasmania.

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 known from a few small streams within the vicinity of Table Cape, central northern Tasmania.

Notes

Most species of Austropyrgus are geographically isolated and have restricted ranges, and this one is no exception.

Further reading

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.