Austropyrgus viridarium Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003

Diagnostic features

This species belongs to the Austropyrgus cooma group, whose members are characterised by generally pupiform to conical, small to medium-sized shells, where the last whorl and base are evenly convex.

This is one of several species of Austropyrgus found in the southern half of New South Wales. They are all very similar, being separated on small differences in size and shape of the shells and in anatomical details. They have elongate-conic shells with adults having a slightly thickened aperture and the operculum bears several pegs. Most species of Austropyrgus are geographically isolated and have restricted ranges. This species is found in the Tallaganda State Forest, southern New South Wales.

This species is most similar in shell shape to the Victorian A. colensis, from which it differs most obviously in shell colour (yellow-brown compared with white to pale yellow in A. colensis) and in some anatomical characters.

Classification

Austropyrgus viridarium Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003

Class Gastropoda

Infraclass Caenogastropoda

Order Littorinida

Suborder Rissoidina

Superfamily Truncatelloidea

Family Tateidae

Genus Austropyrgus Cotton, 1942

Original name: Austropyrgus viridarium 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: Tributary of Bombay Creek, Tallaganda State Forest, New South Wales.

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

Tallaganda State Forest, southern New South Wales.

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.