Major Group: Gastropoda
Order: Architaenioglossa
Family: Viviparidae |
Descriptive Features: operculum present, horny, with central concentric nucleus
shell coiled (almost always dextral)
shell thick, with periostracum
shell medium to large, 4 whorls, conical, globose to some-what flattened
spire elevated, usually coming to a point
eyes on short stalks at outer sides of tentacle bases
mantle edge weakly digitate to smooth
Total length: up to 10 mm
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Notopala sublineata |
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Viviparidae |
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Taxonomic Checklist: Genera
Bellamya heudei Kobelt (introduced from China)
Centrapala lirata Tate
Larina strangei Adams
Notopala 4 species |
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Distribution: SA, Qld, NSW, Vic
Sensitivity Rating: SIGNAL grade 4
Functional Feeding Group: scrapers |
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Normans Lagoon, Albury NSW |
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Ecology: The local extinction, in lower Murray-Darling Basin, of Notopala is thought to be due to its dependence on food sources that have become drastically altered by flow regulation.
Instream habitat: Viviparidae species occur in slow moving or still waters. The introduced species, Bellamya heudei, can be found attached to submerged wood, sometimes in large aggregations, and under loose bark, or in sand or mud on the river or pond bed or floating on the water surface, sometimes in large numbers.
Feeding ecology: Viviparidae species are grazers of detritus and small periphytic algae such as diatoms.
Habit: All species appear to be drought resistant.
Life history: The name, Viviparidae, is derived from habit of the females to brood their young in a brood pouch formed from the pallial oviduct. Juveniles are released into the water as mobile miniature forms of the adult. |
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Information Sources: Information Sources: Ponder 2001, Smith 1992, 1996, 2004, Williams 1980, Gooderham & Tsyrlin 2002, Sheldon & Walker 1997, Shea 1994
Key to Genera: Smith 1996
Key to Species: Ponder et al 2000 (Notopala NSW) |
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