Potamopyrgus is a genus of minute freshwater snails with an operculum, aquatic gastropod molluscs or micromolluscs in the family Tateidae.[1]

Potamopyrgus
Potamopyrgus antipodarum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Tateidae
Genus: Potamopyrgus
Stimpson, 1865
Species

See text

Description

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Stimpson (1865) described the genus as follows: “Shell ovate-conic, imperforate; apex acute; whorls coronated with spines; outer whorl nearly two-thirds the length of the shell; aperture ovate, outer lip acute. Operculum corneous, subspiral. Foot rather short for the length of the shell, broadest in front and strongly auriculated. Tentacles very long, slender, and tapering. Eyes on very prominent tubercles. Rostrum of moderate size.”

Distribution

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This genus is endemic to New Zealand and south eastern Australia.

However, one species within this genus, P. antipodarum, has been accidentally introduced in many countries worldwide, especially in Europe and North America, and has become a problematic invasive species.

Species

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Species within the genus Potamopyrgus include:

Species brought into synonymy

References

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  1. ^ Bouchet, P.; Rosenberg, G. (2014); Criscione and Ponder 2013. Potamopyrgus Stimpson, 1865. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=147122 on 2014-07-29
  2. ^ Stimpson 1865
  • Powell A. W. B., New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1

Criscione, F. and W.F. Ponder. 2013. A phylogenetic analysis of rissooidean and cingulopsoidea families (Gastropoda: Caenogastropoda). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 66(3):1075-1082.

  • Stimson, W. 1865. Diagnoses of newly discovered genera of Gasteropods, belonging to the sub-fam. Hydrobiinae, of the family Rissoidae. American Journal of Conchology 1:52-54.
  • Vaught, K.C. (1989). A classification of the living Mollusca. American Malacologists: Melbourne, FL (USA). ISBN 0-915826-22-4. XII, 195 pp

Winterbourn, M. 1970. The New Zealand species of Potamopyrgus (Gastropoda, Hydrobiidae). Malacalogia 10(2):283-321