Paphies subtriangulata quoyii

Taxobox
name = "Paphies subtriangulata quoyii"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Bivalvia
ordo = Veneroida
superfamilia = Mactroidea
familia = Mesodesmatidae
genus = "Paphies"
species = "P. subtriangulata"
subspecies = "P. subtriangulata quoyii"
trinomial = "Paphies subtriangulata quoyii"
trinomial_authority = (Deshayes, 1832)

"Paphies subtriangulata quoyii" is one of three subspecies of the bivalve clam known as tuatua in the Māori language, a member of the family Mesodesmatidae and endemic to New Zealand. It is found on the North and South islands of New Zealand, buried in fine clean sand on ocean beaches. It is rare in the north, but common along the east coast of the South Island.

The large shell is asymmetrical, with the hinge at one side. It is thick, solid, and wedge-shaped, coloured white under a thin layer of yellow periostracum which is usually worn off. It differs from the other two subspecies by having a larger shell, higher in relation to length, less massive, and with only a slight posterior ridge.

It is an edible delicacy, made into fritters or boiled and served on the shell. Historically it has been used as a food source by the Māori, its shell a common component of excavated Māori middens.

The clam burrows beneath the sand, and does so very quickly, making it a challenge to dig for at times. It also squirts water when threatened. All tuatua are protected with legal limits on their capture. In some areas one digger may bag no more than 50 to 150 tuatuas per day, depending on location.

Maximum length is 86 mm, height 65 mm, and thickness 38 mm.

The other two subspecies are:
* "Paphies subtriangulata porrecta" (Marwick, 1928)
* "Paphies subtriangulata subtriangulata" (Wood, 1828)

References

* Powell A. W. B., "New Zealand Mollusca", William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1