Phrantela daveyensis daveyensis Ponder & Clark, 1993

Diagnostic features

This species is one of several with similar conical shells that are found in the south-west of Tasmania. On the whole, these species are not easily distinguished on shell characters, even when living in sympatry. All have a penis with a broad base and an essentially straight penial duct, the pallial vas deferens departs from the anterior end of the prostate gland and all but one species have more cusps on the inner marginal teeth than on the outer. This species is most similar to P. kutikina and, less so, to P. warwicki.

Classification

Phrantela daveyensis daveyensis Ponder & Clark, 1993

Class Gastropoda

Infraclass Caenogastropoda

Order Littorinida

Suborder Rissoidina

Superfamily Truncatelloidea

Family Beddomeiidae

Genus Phrantela  Iredale, 1943

Original name: Phrantela daveyensis daveyensis 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: Davey River, Tasmania.

Biology and ecology

This species lives under boulders in a backwater of the Davey River and is the only tateid recorded at this site. 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

Originally found in a backwater of the Davey River, southwest Tasmania; it is the only tateid known at this site. It has since been found in another locality in SW Tasmania.

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.