Ferrissia neozelanica
Species of gastropod
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ferrissia neozelanica, also known as Gundlachia neozelanica, is a species of small freshwater limpet, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk, or micromollusk, in the family Planorbidae.
| Ferrissia neozelanica | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Superorder: | Hygrophila |
| Family: | Planorbidae |
| Genus: | Ferrissia |
| Species: | F. neozelanica |
| Binomial name | |
| Ferrissia neozelanica | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
As of 2014, this species was listed in the IUCN Red list twice: as Gundlachia neozelanica - data deficient[3] and as Ferrissia neozelanicus - least concern.[1]
Shell description
Shell depressed conoidal, oval-oblong, the sides straightened, subparallel, thin, semitransparent, horn-colour, with a blackish-green coating. Apex a little inclined to the right, situated at the posterior sixth of the length, flatly convex anteriorly; concentric lines of growth at regular intervals. Interior light brown, shining. Aperture is elongated oval, slightly broadened anteriorly. Specimens have been found with the septum partly formed, but not adult.[2]
The shell length is up to 3 mm, the width up to 2 mm, and height up to 0.75 mm.[4]
Anatomy
These animals have a pallial lung, as do all pulmonate snails, but they also have a false gill or "pseudobranch". This serves as a gill as these limpets may sometimes not be able to reach the surface for air.
Distribution
This freshwater limpet is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand.[4]
Habitat
These tiny limpets are found attached to stems and undersides of leaves of aquatic plants in quiet waters.