Superficially similar to Fluviopupa Pilsbry, 1911, but differs in the stomach having a rudimentary to absent caecum (this feature is well developed in Fluviopupa, and is typically ‘fan-shaped’). The operculum also differs from Fluviopupa in having an internal white, raised, thickened area equivalent to the pegs in some other tateids such as Austropyrgus. Irregular bumps are sometimes seen on this area, suggestive of rudimentary pegs. The opercula of Fluviopupa have a white smear and rarely a slightly raised ‘pimple’ suggestive of a rudimentary peg. A penial flange is present on the penis in the type species but this is absent in T. millerae. Most species of Fluviopupa have a seminal receptacle but this is lacking in the type species of Turricochlea but it is present in T. millerae.
Turricochlea Ponder, Nimbs & Shea, 2023
Class Gastropoda
Infraclass Caenogastropoda
Order Littorinida
Suborder Rissoidina
Superfamily Truncatelloidea
Family Tateidae
Genus Turricochlea Ponder, Nimbs & Shea, 2023
Type species: Turricochlea judbarraensis Ponder, Nimbs & Shea, 2023
Original reference: Ponder, W. F., Nimbs, M. J. & Shea, M. E. (2023). Hyporheic Tateidae (Gastropoda: Truncatelloidea) from the Flinders Ranges, South Australia and Judbarra (Gregory) National Park, western Northern Territory, Australia, with some taxonomic notes on the family. Molluscan Research 44: 63-83.
Type locality: Spring-fed Limestone Creek in Limestone Gorge, Judbarra/Gregory National Park, western Northern Territory.
Lives in sediments (mixed gravel, sand and mud) in Limestone Creek, Limestone Gorge, Judbarra/Gregory National Park.
Known only from Limestone Creek, Limestone Gorge, Judbarra/Gregory National Park.
This genus is sister to Sulawesidrobia Ponder & Haase, 2005 from Sulawesi which has similar reproductive and gastric features but differs from Turricochlea in having a relatively shorter shell spire, and the central teeth of the radula have fewer (1–3) basal cusps and a wider cutting edge.
Ponder, W. F., Nimbs, M. J. & Shea, M. E. (2023). Hyporheic Tateidae (Gastropoda: Truncatelloidea) from the Flinders Ranges, South Australia and Judbarra (Gregory) National Park, western Northern Territory, Australia, with some taxonomic notes on the family. Molluscan Research 44: 63-83.
