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 Major Groups | Gastropoda (snails) | Hygrophila (snails) | Planorbidae(Ancylidae)
 

Planorbidae

Major Group: Gastropoda
Order: Hygrophila
Family: Planorbidae (formerly Ancylidae)

Descriptive Features:

  • true molluscan gill lost, replaced by various types of secondary gills in some groups
  • position of eyes relative to tentacles variable, usually at inner bases or at middle of bases
  • hermaphroditic (simultaneous or protandric)
  • operculum typically absent, present in 1 basal families
  • mantle cavity modified as pulmonary cavity
  • head and snout spread laterally
  • radula with many tooth rows (most teeth rather similar)
  • operculum absent
  • eyes on inner side of tentacle bases
  • shell limpet-shaped
  • mantle edge simple, with pseudobranch
  • Size:
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    Ferrissia petterdi

    Taxonomic Checklist: Species
    Ferrissia petterdi
    Johnston
    Ferrissia tasmanica Tenison-Woods
    Stimulator consetti Iredale

    Distribution: all states

    Sensitivity Rating: SIGNAL grade 4

    Functional Feeding Group: scrapers

     

    Murray River at Talmalmo, Vic

    Ecology: Instream habitat: Ferrissia species occur in a wide variety of freshwater habitats, from stagnant pools to fast flowing creeks and rivers. They are found attached to any flat surface, in line with their common name of ‘limpet snail’. Limpet snails can cope with a variety of water speeds and live on rocky substrates, woody debris and amongst macrophytes.
    Feeding ecology: Limpet snails graze on periphyton.
    Habit:
    Life history: Species in the Northern Hemisphere are hermaphroditic but cannot self-fertilise as the sperm and ovum are kept separately within the body. The life span is about one year.

     

    Information Sources: Ponder 2001, 2013, Smith 1992, 1996, Smith & Kershaw 1981, Sloane & Norris 2002
    Key to Genera: none (Stimulator only occurs in NW WA)
    Key to Species: Ponder et al 2000 (NSW, Ferrissia), Smith & Kershaw 1981 (Tas, Ferrissia)