The shell is dextral and globose-conic.[3] The shell has up to five whorls.[3] The aperture is subovate.[3] The operculum is corneous and concentric.[3] Colour is usually yellow, olive green, brown, cream or white and sometimes may have darker spiral bands.[4] Head-foot with long tentacles with eyes on short processes at their outer bases; often pigmented with multiple different colours.[4]
Generally occurs on fine sediment and/or on and under rocks and logs. Members of Notopala are thought to be grazers of periphyton and occur in slow moving or still waters.[5] Some species are able to aestivate in mud during dry periods.
"Banded species of Notopala occur in several parts of northern Australia and Queensland that are similar to N. essingtonensis, N. tricincta and N. kingi but are thought to be different species (W. Ponder, unpublished studies). These should be identified simply as Notopala sp."[4]
The type species of the genus Notopala is Paludina hanleyi Frauenfeld, 1862, by original designation[1]
References
^ abcdeKear B. P., Hamilton-Bruce R. J., Smith B. J. & Gowlett-Holmes K. L. (2003). "Reassessment of Australia's oldest freshwater snail, Viviparus (?) albascopularis Etheridge, 1902 (Mollusca : Gastropoda : Viviparidae), from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian, Wallumbilla Formation) of White Cliffs, New South Wales". Molluscan Research23(2): 149–158. doi:10.1071/MR03003, PDF.
^ abcdeHamilton-Bruce R. J., Smith B. J. & Gowlett-Holmes K. L. (2002). "Descriptions of a new genus and two new species of viviparid snails (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Viviparidae) from the Early Cretaceous (middle-late Albian) Griman Creek Formation of Lightning Ridge, northern New South Wales". Records of the South Australian Museum35: 193–203. PDF
