Trochidrobia inflata
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Trochidrobia inflata | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Littorinimorpha |
| Family: | Tateidae |
| Genus: | Trochidrobia |
| Species: | T. inflata |
| Binomial name | |
| Trochidrobia inflata | |
Trochidrobia inflata is a species of very small freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Tateidae. This species is endemic to Australia. Trochidrobia inflata derives the name inflata from the inflated shell of this species.
Trochidrobia inflata has a small umbilicus and a relatively high spire. This distinction is what distinguishes this species from other species of Trochidrobia genus. In addition, between Trochidrobia inflata and Trochidrobia minuta, which it shares the habitat with, T. inflata species has a larger size (up to 1.7 mm in maximum diameter), a wider umbilicus, and a taller spire. Trochidrobia inflata has a body volume of 0.00552 cm3 and a wet body mass of 0.00965 gram. This species moves similarly to other snails and slugs, by mucus mediated gliding. It has been found by Hershler and Jenkins (1989) that the mineralized skeleton of Trochidrobia inflata contains calcium carbonate, the same chemical compound that made up the shells in shellfishes. Trochidrobia inflata reproduces sexually.
Ecology
Similar to other Trochidrobia species, T. inflata feeds on periphytic and epiphytic algae. Trochidrobia inflata species is also a part of essential dietary requirements for a number of animals; for instance cray fish, turtles, ducks, raccoons, muskrats, geese, otters, and fish. Trochidrobia inflata protects themselves by retracting into their shells through the opening of the shell called the operculum, similar to the defence mechanism of common molluscs such as snails.