Search
Taxonomy
Family:
MESODESMATIDAE
Full Classification:
Mollusca (Phylum)
> Bivalvia (Class)
> Autobranchia (Subclass)
> Heteroconchia (Infraclass)
> Euhetrodonta (Subterclass)
> Imparidentia (Superorder)
> Venerida (Order)
> Mactroidea (Superfamily)
> Mesodesmatidae (Family)
> Paphies (Genus)
> subtriangulata (Species)
Genus Synonyms:
=Amesodesma Iredale, 1930
=Amphidesma (Paphies) Lesson, 1831
=Amphidesma (Taria) A. Adams, 1853
=Machaena Gray, 1843
=Paphies (Paphies) Lesson, 1831
=Paphies (Taria) Gray, 1853
=Taria Gray, 1853
Synonymised Names:
=Amphidesma (Taria) porrectum Marwick, 1928
=Amphidesma subtriangulata (W. Wood, 1828)
=Amphidesma subtriangulata cookianum Dawson, 1959
=Erycina subangulata Gray, 1825
=Mactra subtriangulata W. Wood, 1828
=Mesodesma reentsii Römer, 1862
=Mesodesma spissa Reeve, 1854
=Paphies (Taria) subtriangulata (W. Wood, 1828)
=Paphies porrecta (Marwick, 1928)
=Paphies subtriangulata porrecta (Marwick, 1928)
Images: Paphies subtriangulata (W. Wood, 1828)
Common Tuatua, on coastal sandy beaches. 64mm. © rights reserved
Common Tuatua, on coastal sandy beaches. 64mm. © rights reserved
Taxonomy
Family:
MESODESMATIDAE
Full Classification:
Mollusca (Phylum)
> Bivalvia (Class)
> Autobranchia (Subclass)
> Heteroconchia (Infraclass)
> Euhetrodonta (Subterclass)
> Imparidentia (Superorder)
> Venerida (Order)
> Mactroidea (Superfamily)
> Mesodesmatidae (Family)
> Paphies (Genus)
> subtriangulata (Species)
Genus Synonyms:
=Amesodesma Iredale, 1930
=Amphidesma (Paphies) Lesson, 1831
=Amphidesma (Taria) A. Adams, 1853
=Machaena Gray, 1843
=Paphies (Paphies) Lesson, 1831
=Paphies (Taria) Gray, 1853
=Taria Gray, 1853
Synonymised Names:
=Amphidesma (Taria) porrectum Marwick, 1928
=Amphidesma subtriangulata (W. Wood, 1828)
=Amphidesma subtriangulata cookianum Dawson, 1959
=Erycina subangulata Gray, 1825
=Mactra subtriangulata W. Wood, 1828
=Mesodesma reentsii Römer, 1862
=Mesodesma spissa Reeve, 1854
=Paphies (Taria) subtriangulata (W. Wood, 1828)
=Paphies porrecta (Marwick, 1928)
=Paphies subtriangulata porrecta (Marwick, 1928)
Details: Paphies subtriangulata (W. Wood, 1828)
Size/Grows to:
Length 98mm, Height 69mm
Distribution:
North, South, Stewart, Auckland and Chatham Islands. Low tide level to a few metres, from 0-66m
Notes:
Tuatua, Marine, Native - Endemic
View Distribution Map
References and Publications
  • Stace, G. Oct/1996 An overview of the Genus Paphies in New Zealand Fossil Records, Poirieria, 19 (p.10)
  • Smith, P.J., MacArthur, G.J., Michael, K.P. 1989 Regional variation in electromorph frequencies in the tuatua, Paphies subtriangulata, around New Zealand, New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 23 (p.31)
  • Jamieson, P.R. May/1987 Even well known species need name changes, Poirieria, 15(3) (p.10)
  • Powell, A.W.B. 1979 New Zealand Mollusca: Marine, Land and Freshwater Shells, Collins, Auckland (p.416)

NZ Geographical Regions
Key to symbols used in Checklist.
Fw =
Freshwater
L =
Land
N =
North Island
S =
South Island
R =
Recent
Sf =
Subfossil
Fo =
Fossil
Recently Viewed