Stenomelania denisoniensis (Brot 1877)

Stenomelania denisoniensis from the Ross River, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

Stenomelania denisoniensis is a very variable species of freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Thiaridae.^[2] Stenomelania denisoniensis has a long, slender shell and small aperture. This species has a characteristic angled shoulder just below the suture. This shoulder may be strong in some individuals and weak in others even if they are part of the same population.^[3]

Biology and ecology

"On and in sediment, rocks and on water weeds in freshwater rivers, streams, lakes and dams. A detritus and algal feeder. Stenomelania denisoniensis broods larvae in a brood pouch in the head which may contain a dozen shelled juveniles and many unshelled juveniles in different embryonic stages."^[3]

Distribution

Distribution of Stenomelania denisoniensis is endemic to Australia and includes New South Wales and Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia^[1] Is found most commonly found in tropical and subtropical Australia (the northern half of the continent).

References

• Brot, A. 1877. Die Melaniaceen (Melanidae). pp. 193–352 in Küster, H.C., Martini, F.W. & Chemnitz, J.H. (eds). Systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet. Nürnberg : Bauer & Raspe Bd 9 Tl 3.
• Iredale, T. 1943. A basic list of the freshwater Mollusca of Australia. The Australian Zoologist 10(2): 188-230
• Smith, B.J. 1992. Non-Marine Mollusca. In, Houston, W.W.K. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Non-marine Mollusca. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 8 xii 408 pp.
• Glaubrecht, M., Brinkmann, N. & Pöppe, J. 2009. Diversity and disparity ‘down under’: Systematics, biogeography and reproductive modes of the ‘marsupial’ freshwater Thiaridae (Caenogastropoda, Cerithioidea) in Australia. Zoosystematics and Evolution 85(2): 199-275