The Australian freshwater limpets are in need of revision so the classification presented here is likely to be changed.
This small limpet differs from Ferrissia petterdi in the shell having a more rounded base and a higher spire.
This species lacks the septation and detached cap development as sometimes occurs in F. petterdi.
Ferrissia tasmanica (Tenison Woods, 1876)
Common name: Broad freshwater limpet
Class Gastropoda
Infraclass Heterobranchia
Megaorder Hygrophila
Order Lymnaeida
Superfamily Planorboidea
Family Planorbidae
Subfamily: Ancylinae
Original name: Ancylus tasmanica Tenison Woods, 1876. In Tenison Woods, J. E. 1876. On the freshwater shells of Tasmania. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 1875: 66-82.
Type locality: Browns River, Tasmania.
Synonyms: Ancylus assimilis Petterd, 1884; Ancylus mariae Petterd, 1902; Pettancylus importunus Iredale, 1943; Pettancylus tamesus Iredale, 1944; Forcancylus divellus Iredale, 1944;
The Australian freshwater limpets have not been revised - it is highly likely that additional taxa will eventually be recognised.
On macrophytes, wood and stones, in ponds, billabongs, streams and rivers. Sometimes common. Feeds on detritus. Eggs are laid as single hemispherical capsules containing a single egg. Development direct.
Throughout southern and eastern Australia.
Beesley, P. L., Ross, G. J. B. & Wells, A., Eds. (1998). Mollusca: The Southern Synthesis. Parts A & B. Melbourne, CSIRO Publishing.
Hubendick, B. (1964). Studies on Ancylidae: the subgroups. Göteborgs Kungliga Vetenskaps och Vitterhets Samhälles Handligar Sjatte Foljden B 9: 1-72.
Hubendick, B. (1967). Studies on Ancylidae: the Australian, Pacific and Neotropical form groups. Acta Zoologica, Göteborg 1: 1-52.
Shea, M. (1995). Freshwater molluscs of Sydney. Australian Shell News 88: 4-6.
Smith, B. J. & Kershaw, R. C. (1979). Field guide to the non-marine Molluscs of South-eastern Australia. Canberra, A.N.U. Press.
Smith, B. J. & Kershaw, R. C. (1981). Tasmanian Land and Freshwater Molluscs. Hobart, University of Tasmania.
