This genus is in need of revision, as the species concepts we have used have not been rigorously tested. Unpublished molecular data indicate that the species units we are using here are not accompanied by clear-cut morphological characters that allow separation based on shell characters alone. As the species units appear to be overall concordant with state boundaries, we have used these boundaries to aid delimiting species. This situation is not ideal, and can only be resolved by additional molecular and morphological studies involving dense sampling.
The taxonomy of Glyptophysa is very poorly understood. This is one of several species of relatively smooth shelled Glyptophysa that are variable in shape and in periostracal development (periostracal hairs and spirals can be present), even within a single population. A large number of species-group names are available and it is quite possible that more species occur in Australia. At present we are recognising only three, in addition to G. aliciae.
This species is one of three that we are somewhat tentatively recognising (see statement under Notes) that were previsously referred to as Glyptophysa gibbosa (now treated as a synomym of G. novaehollandica). These taxa are in need of revision, as the species concepts we have used have not been rigorously tested.
Glyptophysa novaehollandica (Bowdich, 1822)
Common name: Pouched snail
Class Gastropoda
Infraclass Heterobranchia
Megaorder Hygrophila
Order Lymnaeida
Superfamily Planorboidea
Family Planorbidae
Subfamily: Miratestinae
Genus Glyptophysa Crosse, 1872
Original name: Physa novaehollandica Bowdich, 1822 (as Physa n.hollandica). In Bowdich, T. E. (1822). Elements of Conchology Pt. 1. Paris.
Type locality: Assumed to be New Holland (= Australia), based on the name.
Synonyms: Physa novaehollandiae Lesson, 1831; Physa novaehollandiae Gray, 1833; Physa ludwigii Küster, 1844; Physa gibbosa Gould, 1846; Physa pectorosa Conrad, 1850; Physa australiana Conrad, 1850; ?Physa circumlineata Morelet, 1857; Physa concinna A. Adams & Angas, 1864; Physa olivacea A. Adams & Angas, 1864; Physa badia A. Adams & Angas, 1864; Physa (Bulinus) acutispira Tryon, 1866; Physa aciculata Sowerby, 1873; Physa dispar Sowerby, 1873; Physa proteus Sowerby, 1873; Physa pyramidata Sowerby, 1873; Physa tenuistriata Sowerby, 1873; Physa subundata Sowerby, 1873; Aplexa adamsiana Tapparone-Canefri 1874; Physa duplicata G. B. Sowerby, 1874; Physa aperta Sowerby, 1874; Physa attenuata Sowerby, 1874; Physa pinguis Sowerby, 1874; Physa brunniensis Sowerby, 1874; Physa eburnea Sowerby, 1874; Physa mamillata Sowerby, 1874; Physa nitida Sowerby, 1874; Physa puncturata Sowerby, 1874; Physa texturata Sowerby, 1874; Physa bullata Sowerby, 1874; Physa huonensis Tenison Woods, 1876; Physa legrandi Tenison Woods, 1876; Physa tasmanica Tenison Woods, 1876; Physa huonicola Tenison Woods, 1876; Physa tasmanicola Tenison Woods, 1876; Physa ciliata Tenison Woods, 1876; Physa arachnoidea Tenison Woods, 1878; Physa yarraensis Tenison Woods, 1878; Physa diemenensis Johnston, 1879; Physa fumiformis Nelson and Taylor, 1879; Physa beddomei Nelson & Taylor, 1879; Physa brisbanica Nelson & Taylor, 1879; Aplexa turrita Tate, 1881; Physa exarata Smith, 1882; Physa gracilenta Smith, 1882; Physa etheridgii Smith, 1882; Physa queenslandica Smith, 1882; Physa lessoni Smith, 1882; Physa grayi Smith, 1882; Physa smithi Clessin, 1885; Physa kreffti Clessin, 1886; Physa multispirata Clessin, 1886; Physa conica Clessin, 1886; Physa lincolnensis Clessin, 1886; Physa waterhousei Clessin, 1886; Physa producta Smith, 1882; Physa tortuosa Clessin, 1886. Isidora gibbosa brevispira Odhner, 1917; Bullinus tenuistriatus confluens Hedley, 1917; Amerianna subacuta Cotton & Beasley, 1941; Tasmadora sorellensis Cotton, 1943; Lenameria calda Iredale, 1944; Lenameria digressa Iredale, 1944; Lenameria epicropa Iredale, 1944; Lenameria formalis Iredale, 1944; Lenameria placata Iredale, 1944; Lenameria pretena Iredale, 1944; Lenameria renola Iredale, 1943; Mutalena modica Iredale, 1944; Mutalena reperta Iredale, 1944.
The taxonomy of Glyptophysa is very poorly understood. A large number of species-group names are available and it is quite possible that more species occur in Australia.
This species is one of three that we are somewhat tentatively recognising (see statement under Notes) that were previously referred to as Glyptophysa gibbosa (now treated as a synonym of G. novaehollandica). These taxa are in need of revision, as the species concepts we have used have not been rigorously tested.
On water weeds, wood, and similar substrates, in ponds, billabongs, swamps, and sluggish streams and rivers. Feeds on algae and detritus. Egg mass typically a bean(kidney)-shaped jelly strip containing many small eggs. Development direct.
This species, as tentatively recognised, is found in northern, central, eastern and south-eastern Australia and Tasmania.
This genus is similar to the common introduced Physa acuta (Physidae) in that both have similar-shaped, sinistral shells. Glyptophysa can be distinguished by the shell not being completely smooth (as it is in Physa), Glyptophysa often having some periostracal ornament and microscopic wrinkles or spiral ridges in the case of Glyptophysa aliciae. Physa has a mottled mantle which can usually be seen through the semi- transparent shell whereas Glyptophysa has a uniformly dark-coloured mantle. The animal of Physa has digitations (finger-like processes) along the mantle edge against the columella whereas this edge is smooth in Glyptophysa. Physa lacks a false gill (pseudobranch) which is present in Glyptophysa and all planorbids. The animal of Glyptophysa, if damaged when alive, has red-coloured blood whereas Physa blood is clear.
Glyptophysa differs from the otherwise similar genus Isidorella in the penial apparatus having a penial stylet and an accessory flagellum. Isidorella lacks a stylet and an accessory structure but the penis has two lobes.
This species was previously often known as Glyptophysa gibbosa, but G. novaehollandica is an earlier name.
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Shea, M. (1995). Freshwater molluscs of Sydney. Australian Shell News 88: 4-6.
Smith, B. J. (1992). Non-marine Mollusca. Pp. i-xii, 1-408 in W. W. K. Houston. Zoological Catalogue of Australia, 8. Canberra, Australian Government Publishing Service.
Smith, B. J. & Kershaw, R. C. (1979). Field guide to the non-marine Molluscs of South-eastern Australia. Canberra, A.N.U. Press.
Walker, J. C. (1988). Classification of Australian buliniform planorbids (Mollusca: Pulmonata). Records of the Australian Museum 40: 61-89.
Willan, E. C. & Kessner, V. (2021). A conspectus of the freshwater molluscs of the Daly River catchment, Northern Territory. Northern Territory Naturalist 30: 108-137.
