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 salvus differs from other members of the group in the following combination of characters: shell small, squat, spire outline straight, with convex whorls; pallial vas deferens slightly undulating at prostate gland; penis with no pigmentation to medial section only; bursa copulatrix ovoid in shape.
This species is found in sympatry with one other species of Austropyrgus (A. parvus) within its currently recognized range. It differs from A. parvus in its larger, broader shell with more rounded whorls.
Austropyrgus salvus Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003
Class Gastropoda
Infraclass Caenogastropoda
Order Littorinida
Suborder Rissoidina
Superfamily Truncatelloidea
Family Tateidae
Genus Austropyrgus Cotton, 1942
Original name: Austropyrgus salvus 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: Franklin River, opposite island downstream of Kutikina Cave, southwestern Tasmania.
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 currently known from the lower parts of the Franklin River and the upper parts of the Gordon River, south-western Tasmania. Also known from a few locations north of the Gordon River on the west coast.
Although most species of Austropyrgus are geographically isolated and have restricted ranges, a few such as A. salvus have wider ranges.
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.
