Freshwater Mussel (Phylum Mollusca)
Published August 20, 2017 | Image of a feeding Freshwater bivalve in the upper reaches of Sportsman Creek Conservation Area. They burrow under the sand feeding and breathing by sucking water through tubes called siphons that filter out microscopic plants and animals. Many live 20-30 years by counting the ridges or year stripes on the shell will give the age. They can tolerate extended dry periods but will not occur in polluted water.
Bush Companion Fauna Species of the Clarence Valley and Northern Rivers
Published January 13, 2016 | The newly published book “Bush Companion Fauna Species of the Clarence Valley and Northern Rivers, New South Wales” is available to purchase direct from the publisher.
This book contains over 310 “full colour plate” fauna species in 250 “perfect bound” pages with both common and scientific names.
Order by email at urimbirra7@gmail.com to reserve your copy.
Price $25 a copy plus postage from Sportsman Creek Press.
Leave a commentRed Triangle Slug (Triboniophora graeffei) Family – Athoracophoridae.
Published March 10, 2010 |
“When these native slugs are young they have a striped appearance as shown. Most introduced slugs have four appendages on their heads. These native slugs do not actually eat plants but rasp algal and fungal film off leaves, branches and rocks”. When adult this eastern Australian native land slug has a distinctive red triangular pattern behind the head. Found on Red Ash (Alphitonia excelsia) at Sportsman Creek wildlife refuge.
Reference and I.D. courtesy M. Robinson, Naturalist. Australian Museum.
Native Land Snail (Phyllum; Mollusca).
Published February 5, 2010 | 
There are over 2,000 species of native snail across Australia, the second largest phyllum in the animal kingdom, most undocumented. Image of a 20mm snail , native snails do not pose a pest problem as they are restricted to areas of native vegetation.
Freshwater Mussel (Phylum Mollusca)
Published January 31, 2010 | 
These freshwater bivalves live in the Sportsman Creek. They burrow under the sand and feed and breathe by sucking water through tubes called siphons which filter out microscopic animal and plant species. Many live 20-30 years and can tolerate extended dry periods. By counting the ridges or (year stripes) on it’s shell can tell the age.
Pollution Tolerance; Tolerant, rating 3.
Freshwater mussels do not occur in badly polluted water. As bivalves accumulate toxic chemicals in their tissues, even if present in tiny amounts.
Carnivorous Snail (Strangesta bullacea).
Published January 2, 2010 | 
Rhytididae is a taxanomic family of medium sized predator air-breathing land snails, carnivorous terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs. Found infrequently after heavy rain on Sportsman Creek wildlife refuge. They lay eggs in leaf mould.
Scroll image to enlarge.