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 turbatus differs from other members of the group in the following combination of characters: shell small to medium in size, with straight spire outline and convex whorls; pallial vas deferens with several coils at prostate gland.
This species can be found in sympatry with A. rectus, from which it can be distinguished by its rounded whorls and generally smaller size.
Austropyrgus turbatus (Ponder, Colgan, Clark, Miller & Terzis, 1994)
Class Gastropoda
Infraclass Caenogastropoda
Order Littorinida
Suborder Rissoidina
Superfamily Truncatelloidea
Family Tateidae
Genus Austropyrgus Cotton, 1942
Original name: Fluvidona turbata Ponder, Colgan, Clark, Miller & Terzis, 1994. In Ponder, W.F., Colgan, D. J., Clark, G. A., Miller, A. C. & Terzis, T. (1994). Microgeographic, genetic and morphological differentiation of freshwater snails—the Hydrobiidae of Wilsons Promontory, Victoria, south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 42: 557–678.
Type locality: Squeaky Beach Creek, about 60m above road, Wilsons Promontory, Victoria.
In streams and springs 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 restricted to the small streams and rivers of Wilsons Promontory, eastern Victoria.
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.
Ponder, W. F., Colgan, D. J., Clark, G. A., Miller, A. C. & Terzis, T. (1994). Microgeographic, genetic and morphological differentiation of freshwater snails - the Hydrobiidae of Wilson's Promontory, Victoria, south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 42: 557-678.
