Beddomeia ronaldi Ponder & Clark, 1993

Diagnostic features

Species in the B. tasmanica group have small shells (length 1.2-2.8 mm) with a depressed spire and open umbilicus. The penis is simple.

This species has the most depressed shell-shape of any member of Beddomeia. The only other taxon it resembles is B. pallida, which is slightly larger, has a strongly undulating penial duct, a more elongate bursa with the bursal duct opening to it further posteriorly, the renal organ does not extend into the pallial roof, the anus opens further forward, the albumen gland extends further into the pallial roof and the capsule gland is about equal to the albumen gland in length (not longer).

Classification

Beddomeia ronaldi Ponder & Clark, 1993

Class Gastropoda

Infraclass Caenogastropoda

Order Littorinida

Suborder Rissoidina

Superfamily Truncatelloidea

Family Beddomeiidae

Genus Beddomeia Petterd, 1889

Original name: Beddomeia ronaldi Ponder & Clark, 1993. In Ponder, W.F., Clark, G.A., Miller, A.C. & Toluzzi, A. (1993). On a major radiation of freshwater snails in Tasmania and eastern Victoria: a preliminary overview of the Beddomeia group (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 7: 501-750.

Type locality: Small stream on Weavers Creek Road, Tasmania.

Biology and ecology

This species is known from small tributaries of Weavers Creek, a tributary of St Patricks River, NE Tasmania. Egg capsules presumably like those of other species of Beddomeia - dome-shaped, with broad attachment base, covered with minute, mainly white sand grains and other fragments and containing a single egg. Development direct.

Distribution

This species is known from small tributaries of Weavers Creek, a tributary of St Patricks River, NE Tasmania.

Notes

 All species of Beddomeia are geographically isolated and have restricted ranges.

This species is on the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 as Endangered.

Further reading

Ponder, W. F., Clark, G. A., Miller, A. C. & Toluzzi, A. (1993). On a major radiation of freshwater snails in Tasmania and eastern Victoria: a preliminary overview of the Beddomeia group (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 7: 501-750.