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 vulgaris differs from the other members of this group in the following combination of characters: shell small to medium in size, with straight spire outline and convex whorls; central teeth with 3 pairs of basal cusps; penis attached well to right side of head; bursal duct parallel sided.
This species is found in sympatry with four species of Austropyrgus (A. latus, A. goliathus, A. eumekes and A. sinuatus) throughout its currently recognised range. Its shell can be separated from A. latus and A. goliathus by its smaller size and slightly more rounded whorls, from that of A. eumekes by its much shorter spire and broader shape and from A. sinuatus by its lack of a curved outer lip.
Austropyrgus vulgaris Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003
Class Gastropoda
Infraclass Caenogastropoda
Order Littorinida
Suborder Rissoidina
Superfamily Truncatelloidea
Family Tateidae
Genus Austropyrgus Cotton, 1942
Original name: Austropyrgus vulgaris 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: Mt Emu Creek, just below weir, at Ayrford Road, south of Terang, Victoria.
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 widespread throughout the small streams and rivers of western Victoria.
Although most species of Austropyrgus are geographically isolated and have restricted ranges, a few - such as A. vulgaris - 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.
