Macpherson (1957) noted that this species is "related to Coxiella exposita (Iredale) both in conformation and in the form of the operculum. It differs in its lighter coloration and in the absence of concentric lirae."
Coxiella glabra Macpherson, 1957
Class Gastropoda
Infraclass Caenogastropoda
Order Littorinida
Suborder Rissoidina
Superfamily Truncatelloidea
Family Tomichiidae
Genus E. A. Coxiella Smith, 1894
Original name: Coxiella glabra Macpherson, 1957. In Macpherson, J. H. (1957). A review of the genus Coxiella, Smith, 1894 sensu lato. Western Australian Naturalist 5: 191 - 204.
Type locality: Morawa, Western Australia.
Lawrie et al. (2023) have undertaken an assessment of this group and recognised four clades within what was previously treated as a single genus, Coxiella. They did not formally name the clades or provide names for some new species in that paper but will do so in a forthcoming publication. Hence, in the meantime, we follow Macpherson (1957) who provided the previous taxonomic treatment of this group.
Members of Coxiella are amphibious, inhabiting salt lakes and coastal salt marshes across the southern half of Australia. Empty shells often form pink tidelines around lake shores.
The snout is long and the eyes have a cluster of glands above them. Coxiella are dioecious and development is direct; females are oviparous, depositing eggs singly in capsules coated in sand or mud. Coxiella probably feed on organic detritus and they are amphibious.
Southwest coast and Indian Ocean divisions, Western Australia.
For species description see Macpherson (1957).
Previously included in Pomatiopsidae, recent molecular studies have shown that this genus, together with two other genera, one from South America and the other from Africa, should be separated as a distinct family.
Beesley, P. L., Ross, G. J. B. & Wells, A., Eds. (1998). Mollusca: The Southern Synthesis. Parts A & B. Melbourne, CSIRO Publishing.
Davis, G. M. (1979). The origin and evolution of the gastropod family Pomatiopsidae, with emphasis on the Mekong River Triculinae. Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia Monographs 20: 1-120.
Lawrie, A. D. A., Chaplin, J., Kirkendale, L., Whisson, C., Pinder, A., & Mlambo, M. C. (2023). Phylogenetic assessment of the halophilic Australian gastropod Coxiella and South African Tomichia resolves taxonomic uncertainties, uncovers new species and supports a Gondwanan link. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 184: 107810.
Macpherson, J. H. (1957). A review of the genus Coxiella Smith, 1894, sensu lato. Western Australian Naturalist 5: 191-204.
