Austropeplea tomentosa, commonly known as the New Zealand fluke pond snail, is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail in the family Lymnaeidae.
Subspecies Austropeplea tomentosa hamiltoni (Dell, 1956) Austropeplea tomentosa tomentosa (L. Pfeiffer, 1855)
The species was thought to be widely distributed across Australia and New Zealand. However, molecular research published in 2009 suggests that A. tomentosa is endemic to New Zealand, while Australian populations previously assigned to this species are distinct taxa, such as Austropeplea brazieri.
Description The length of the shell attains 13 mm, its diameter 9 mm.New Zealand Mollusca: Austropeplea tomentosa
(Original description in Latin) The shell is oblong-conical in shape and thin in substance. It is covered in a fine, short-haired down (tomentose), which gives it a dull, non-shining appearance. The material is translucent and displays a pale horn-colored hue.
The spire is conical and terminates in a sharp apex. There are three whorls in total: the second whorl is convex, while the body whorl is quite large, forming three-quarters of the total length and becoming narrower at the base. The columella appears slightly thickened with a callus; it is very lightly folded and follows a curved, arcuate path.
The aperture is slightly oblique and takes an acuminated-oval shape, appearing somewhat leaned over. Finally, the peristome (the lip of the aperture) is simple and slightly flared outward.
Ecology and Distribution The species is found throughout the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It typically inhabits slow-moving or standing waters, including swamps, ponds, and the edges of streams. It is semi-amphibious and can often be found on damp mud or trailing aquatic vegetation near the water's surface.
Parasitology A. tomentosa is a significant intermediate host for the liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica). Because it acts as a vector for this parasite, it has caused concern in agricultural areas where it can facilitate the infection of sheep and cattle.
References
Hutton, F. W. (1884). The fresh water shells of New Zealand belonging to the family Limnaeidae. The New Zealand Journal of Science (1) 2 (4): 175. Cumber R.A. (1941). Two new species of freshwater molluscs from the Waikari Moa Swamp. Records of the Canterbury Museum. 4: 359-60. Hubendick, B. 1951. Recent Lymnaeidae, their variation, morphology, taxonomy, nomenclature and distribution. Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Academiens Nya Handlingar, Stockholm 4 3(1): 1-223 Shea, M. 1995. Freshwater Molluscs of Sydney. Australian Shell News 88: 4-6
External links
Ponder, W. F., Hallan, A., Shea, M. E., Clark, S. A., Richards, K., Klunzinger, M. W. & Kessner, V. (2024). Australian Freshwater Molluscs. Revision 1