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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)
> ventricosa (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:
=Mesodesma ventricosa Gray, 1843
=Paphies (Taria) ventricosa (Gray, 1843)
Images: Paphies ventricosa (Gray, 1843)
Washed up, west coast Northland, NZ. 80mm. © rights reserved
Washed up, west coast Northland, NZ. 80mm. © 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)
> ventricosa (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:
=Mesodesma ventricosa Gray, 1843
=Paphies (Taria) ventricosa (Gray, 1843)
Details: Paphies ventricosa (Gray, 1843)
Size/Grows to:
Length 149mm, Height 91mm. with records over 165mm
Distribution:
Northern and south-western North Island, and north-western and southern South Island. Intertidal, from 0-37m
Notes:
Toheroa, Marine, Native - Endemic
View Distribution Map
References and Publications
  • Weber, W.B. Oct/2013 Te Toheroa, Poirieria, 37 (p.28)
  • Nov/2003 How the Toheroa are doing: some good news?, Cookia, 15 (p.39)
  • Stace, G. Oct/1996 An overview of the Genus Paphies in New Zealand Fossil Records, Poirieria, 19 (p.8)
  • Stace, G. Oct/1996 Distribution of Toheroa (Paphies ventricosa), Poirieria, 19 (p.31)
  • Stace, G. Oct/1995 Toheroa on Oreti Beach, Poirieria, 17(4)
  • Douglas, W.N. Jan/1983 Toheroa - A vanishing Morsus. Paphies ventricosa (Gray, 1843), Poirieria, 12(1) (p.10)
  • Powell, A.W.B. 1979 New Zealand Mollusca: Marine, Land and Freshwater Shells, Collins, Auckland (p.416)
  • Jul/1970 Items of Interest: Amphidesma ventricusum, Poirieria, 5(4) (p.64)
  • Greenway, J.P.C. 1969 Population surveys of toheroa (Mollusca: Eulamellibranchiata) on Northland Beaches, 1962-67, New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 3(2) (p.318)
  • Gardner, N.E. Dec/1962 Amphidesma ventricosum, Poirieria, 1(2)
  • Gray, J.E. 1843 Catalogue of the species of Mollusca and their shells, which have hitherto been recorded as found at New Zealand, with the description of some lately discovered species, Travels in New Zealand; with contributions to the geography, geology, botany, and natural history of that country, 2 (p.252) Original Description

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
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