Phrantela annamurrayae Ponder & Clark, 1993

Diagnostic features

This species is found near the localities for P. marginata but it differs from that species in shell morphology, most notably in being broader, with fewer whorls and a relatively larger last whorl It is somewhat similar to P. pupiformis and P. warwicki in shell shape, but both those species have a broad based penis with a straight penial duct. P. annamurrayae also resembles Beddomeia phasianella in shell outline, but is much larger.

Classification

Phrantela annamurrayae Ponder & Clark, 1993

Class Gastropoda

Infraclass Caenogastropoda

Order Littorinida

Suborder Rissoidina

Superfamily Truncatelloidea

Family Beddomeiidae

Genus Phrantela  Iredale, 1943

Original name: Phrantela annamurrayae Ponder & Clark, 1993. In Ponder, W. F., Clark, G. A., Miller, A. C & Toluzzi, A. (1993). On a major radiation of freshwater snails in Tasmania and eastern Victoria - a preliminary overview of the Beddomeia group (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae). Invertebrate Taxonomy, 7: 501-750.

Type locality: Small tributary of Heazlewood River, on Mt Cleveland Road, Tasmania.

Biology and ecology

Found on weed, stones, leaves and wood in stream bed. Egg capsules unknown but probably like those of an unnamed species of Phrantela; small, with single embryo, and covered in coarse sand grains. Development direct.

Distribution

This species is found in a small stream near its junction with the Heazlewood River, northwest Tasmania, along with Beddomeia cf. hullii and two species of Austropyrgus.

Notes

This species is on the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 as Rare (small population at risk).

Further reading

Ponder, W. F., Clark, G. A., Miller, A. C. & Toluzzi, A. (1993). On a major radiation of freshwater snails in Tasmania and eastern Victoria: a preliminary overview of the Beddomeia group (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 7: 501-750.