Small, cylindrical to ovate shells (height to 3mm)
Shell always dextrally coiled (right-handed)
Aperture with a minimum of 5 barriers
Apertural lip often expanded to form a rim
Shell generally with little sculpture (smooth or faint growth lines).
Morphological Distribution: Genus occurs across most of Australia. In Western Australia it is found from the Kimberley to the south-east coast, including the Pilbara region.
Molecular (COI) Distribution: Insufficient molecular data at present.
SRE Status: We currently regard this genus to contain widespread species in the Pilbara region, except for occurrences on Cape Range and Barrow Island.
Key References:
Solem, A. (1986). Pupilloid land snails from the south and mid-west coasts of Australia. Journal of the Malacological Society of Australia7: 95–124.
Solem, A. (1989). Non-camaenid land snails of the Kimberley and Northern Territory, Australia. 1. Systematics, affinities and ranges. Invertebrate Taxonomy2(4): 455–604.
Stanisic, J., Shea, M., Potter, D. and Griffiths, O. (2010). Australian land snails. Volume 1. A field guide to eastern Australian species. Bioculture Press, Mauritius.
Whisson, C.S. and Kohler, F. (2013). Gastrocopta (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Pupillidae) in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. ZooKeys261: 15–39. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.261.4269
Images
Apertural view of shell of Gastrocopta larapinta from the Pilbara region showing barriers (photo by Vince Kessner).
This guide has been developed by Corey Whisson and Lisa Kirkendale, it can be cited as follows:
Gastrocopta spp.
Family: Pupillidae
Genus: Gastrocopta
Species: spp.
Identification:
Morphological Distribution: Genus occurs across most of Australia. In Western Australia it is found from the Kimberley to the south-east coast, including the Pilbara region.
Molecular (COI) Distribution: Insufficient molecular data at present.
SRE Status: We currently regard this genus to contain widespread species in the Pilbara region, except for occurrences on Cape Range and Barrow Island.
Key References:
Solem, A. (1986). Pupilloid land snails from the south and mid-west coasts of Australia. Journal of the Malacological Society of Australia 7: 95–124.
Solem, A. (1989). Non-camaenid land snails of the Kimberley and Northern Territory, Australia. 1. Systematics, affinities and ranges. Invertebrate Taxonomy 2(4): 455–604.
Stanisic, J., Shea, M., Potter, D. and Griffiths, O. (2010). Australian land snails. Volume 1. A field guide to eastern Australian species. Bioculture Press, Mauritius.
Whisson, C.S. and Kohler, F. (2013). Gastrocopta (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Pupillidae) in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. ZooKeys 261: 15–39. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.261.4269
Images
Apertural view of shell of Gastrocopta larapinta from the Pilbara region showing barriers (photo by Vince Kessner).
This guide has been developed by Corey Whisson and Lisa Kirkendale, it can be cited as follows:
Whisson, C and Kirkendale, L (2014). Field Guide to the terrestrial and freshwater molluscs of the North West, version 1.0. Western Australian Museum, Perth. http://museum.wa.gov.au/catalogues-beta/wam-fieldguides/pilbara-snails
>> Return to Pilbara Snails home