Gastropoda ( Australian Freshwater Snail) INFO.

[wayne6442]

Australian fresh water snails belong to the master group "Gastropoda" ( Snail)

 

 

Gastropoda have a unique feeding structure called a "Radula" a special cartilage type structure lined with tiny teeth that the snail uses for rasping and scraping food from rocks etc.
Freshwater snails have several methods of breathing underwater. Some have gills located within a mantle cavity inside the shell, others obtain oxygen from air filled spaces within their bodies and some have peripherally placed branches which the snail brakes the water surface with to obtain air ( a bit like a snorkel)
Snails grow their own shells by depositing a calcareous material along the periphery of the shell opening.
Snails move by producing a waterproof mucus lubricant under the flat part of their foot and by using a series of muscle contractions allows them to "Slide" across the surface of the substrate.
Gastropods play an important role in the freshwater ecology by breaking down dead animal and plant matter.
fresh water snails are mainly scrapers, and scavengers some might be predators as well. These snails can be found in a wide range of still and flowing waters, from coastal to inland streams, rivers , pools ,billabongs and dams throughout Australia.
Freshwater snails can be collected from weed and algae beds in shallow still water and from the soft muddy bottoms of flowing waterways. Several species of Australian freshwater snails can be found living in temporary pools in the central parts of Australia. They are thought to be able to withstand short periods of drought by burrowing under the silt and secreting a calcified plug known as an 'Epiphragm" to seal the opening of their shell to save moisture.
Some freshwater snails are omnivorous, but most are herbivorous , grazing on plant material and detritus. They are especially fond of algae film coating on submerged surfaces..
Many Gastropoda are 'Hermaphrodites" having both male and female reproductive organs They produce eggs that are typically laid in a gelatinous mass attached to the substratum. however a small number of species do bear live young.

 

NOTOPALA - Australian River Snail
Notopala River Snails are native members of the family "Viviparidae" and are predominately found in the Northern Tropic areas of Australia. Their distribution include the drainage basins of North and Central Australia and most of the S.E areas of Queensland and N.S.Wales. Notopala inhabit rivers, permanent water ,billabongs and can also be found in short lived water holes. They are usually collected from along the banks of the water way, under logs , rocks and in the mud on the bottom. They are thought to be able to survive short periods of drought by burrowing and sealing the shell opening.

Notopala are large snails resembling the "mystery snail"However they don't lay eggs. Their young are brooded by the female to the crawl-away stage before they are released. The young stay with the mother until they are large enough to fend for themselves. The word used to describe this is "viviparous ( live bearing snail)
Notopala snails have an inverted cone shaped shell, ranging in colour from brown to a greenish brown can have darker spiral bands. With the limited Genetic divergence and lifestyle of these animals , suggest that the Notopala species possesses very limited dispersal. Many are confined to a very small range or even one single waterway.
The body of this animal is similar to other snails but has a prominent snout , short eye storks on the outside of the tenticles.
As filter feeders the Notopala feed on bacteria suspended in the water and also grazes on bacterial "biofilms" that occur on hard surfaces in free flowing water, They are also good grazers grazing on algea growing on any submerged surfaces.
There is an amount of confusion as to the number of species of Notopala in Australia The genus is currently under review. preliminary studies estimate that the number of species could be around 18 .The Australian Faunal Directory lists 12 species and sub species..
Two Species well known to collectors and keepers are the Notopala Waterhousei ( Waterhouse Snail)
And Notopala Essingtonensis ( Essington Snail)

Dave Wilson from ********* provides the following information for the keeping of these animals.
Waterhouse Snail (Notopala waterhousei) The water quality for these snails does not appear critical but they do appear to fare better if the water is a little hard. They also do not toerate low dissolved oxygen levels , this is never a problem in a well run planted aquarium. In some of his very soft water ponds they have difficulty producing shell. the snails do well eating bacteria slime and algea growing in aquariums and do very well in aquariums with plenty of detritus. DOES NOT EAT LIVING PLANTS!
Essington Snails ( Notopala Essingtonensis) The water for these snails needs to be hard and alkaline suggest PH of 7.5 to 8.0, and a hardness of about 200 ppm They eat bacterial slime and periphyton and detritus in aquariums. The snails do very well with detritus as long as the water is hard, If the water is soft or acid their shells erode. like its larger relative it DOES NOT EAT LIVING PLANTS! hides during the day and ventures out at night to feed
. 


References used :- Dave Wilson ********* www.*********.com.au
Identification and ecology of Australian Freshwater Invertebrates www.mdfrc.org.au
Adrian R Tappin Jan 2011 Notopala - Australian River Snails http;//aquaticlife.angfaqld.org.au

Edited May 14, 2014 by NoGi

[ineke]

Another awesome write up Wayne:encouragement:

[Squiggle]

Awesome article Wayne, very interesting indeed, definitely one for the library :victorious:

[wayne6442]

Do you think this article is library material?

[Squiggle]

Definitely dude :encouragement: should PM a mod & they'll move it :victorious:

[mr_c265]

Notos are my favourites, i like them better than Nerites even. Good writeup mate.

[Ziek]

This is fantastic Wayne, definitely needs to be in the library. I never knew about noto snails before now and after seeing the pics of them I would love one or two for my up and coming system. Thank you for introducing them to me Wayne

[ninja]

What is the highest temp they can take?