Insuladrobia whiteleggei (Brazier, 1889)

Diagnostic features

This species has several strong spiral ridges on the shell. Its maximum length is about 4.2 mm.

The penis is simple in all species of Insuladrobia.

Classification

Insuladrobia whiteleggei (Brazier, 1889)

Class Gastropoda

Infraclass Caenogastropoda

Order Littorinida

Suborder Rissoidina

Superfamily Truncatelloidea

Family Tateidae

Genus Insuladrobia Ponder & Köhler, 2024

Original name: Bythinella whiteleggei Brazier,1889. In Brazier, J. (1889) Mollusca. Australian Museum Memoir 2: 22-30, plts 4-5.

Type locality: "Creek to the north of Old Settlement", Lord Howe Island.

Biology and ecology

Living in sediments below the surface in small stream that dries on the surface. It is assumed that like most tateids, the Lord Howe Island Tateidae feed on bacteria, microscopic algae, diatoms and possibly decaying vegetation.

Distribution

Lower freshwater reaches of streams behind Old Settlement Beach, Lord Howe Island.

Notes

This species was presumed to be extinct (Ponder, 1982), but was rediscovered in 1985. The pronounced spiral ribs of this species make it distinct from all other species.

Further reading

Iredale, T. (1944). The land Mollusca of Lord Howe Island. Australian  Zoologist 10: 299-334, pls XVII-XX.

Ponder, W. F. (1982). Hydrobiidae of Lord Howe Island (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Prosobranchia). Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 33: 89-159.

Ponder, W. F., & Köhler, F. (2024). A review of the relationships of the Tateidae of Lord Howe Island. Molluscan Research, pp. 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1080/13235818.2024.2355680