This is the 'large aquatic' species of the middle and northern springs in the Lake Eyre supergroup. It has a larger shell than F. accepta. The operculum has rather weak to moderately strong pegs, or they are sometimes absent.
Fonscochlea (Fonscochlea) aquatica Ponder, Hershler & Jenkins, 1989
Class Gastropoda
Infraclass Caenogastropoda
Order Littorinida
Suborder Rissoidina
Superfamily Truncatelloidea
Family Tateidae
Genus Fonscochlea Ponder, Hershler and Jenkins, 1989
Original name: Fonscochlea (Fonscochlea) aquatica Ponder, Hershler & Jenkins, 1989. In Ponder, W. F., Hershler, R. & Jenkins, B. (1989). An endemic radiation of hydrobiid snails from artesian springs in northern South Australia: their taxonomy, physiology, distribution and anatomy.Malacologia 31: 1-140.
Type locality: Blanche Cup Spring, Lake Eyre Division, South Australia.
This is the large aquatic species living in the Middle, South-Western, Northern and Freeling Springs. It is generally abundant in the pool at the head of the springs. It can sometimes be seen clustering on the sides of the outflows but it is not amphibious and, if emergent, is covered by a film of water. Lives together with Trochidrobia.
The Middle, South Western, Northern and Freeling Spring Groups in the Lake Eyre Supergroup, South Australia.
This is one of several species of Fonscochlea found in northern South Australia. They are all very similar, being separated on small differences in size and shape of the shells and in anatomical details. They have pupiform shells with adults having a thin to slightly thickened aperture and the operculum usually bears one or more pegs. Fonscochlea are among the most geographically isolated tateid snails in Australia.
Ponder, W. F., Hershler, R. & Jenkins, B. (1989). An endemic radiation of Hydrobiidae from artesian springs in northern South Australia: their taxonomy, physiology, distribution and anatomy. Malacologia 31: 1-140.
Ponder, W. F., Eggler, P. E. & Colgan, D. J. (1995). Genetic differentiation of aquatic snails (Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae) from artesian springs in arid Australia. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 56: 553-596.
Ponder, W. F. (2004). Endemic aquatic macroinvertebrates of artesian springs of the Great Artesian Basin—progress and future directions. Records of the South Australian Museum Monograph Series 7: 101-110.
