Sphaerium novaezelandiae

Taxobox
name = "Sphaerium novaezelandiae"


image_caption =
image_width =
status =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Bivalvia
subclassis = Heterodonta
ordo = Veneroida
subordo = Sphaeriacea
familia = Sphaeriidae
genus = "Sphaerium"
species = "S. novaezelandiae"
binomial = "Sphaerium novaezelandiae"
binomial_authority = Deshayes, 1854
synonyms = "Sphaerium novae-zelandiae" Deshayes, 1854
"Sphaerium lenticular" Dunker, 1862
"Sphaerium novae-zelandiae" Suter, 1913

"Sphaerium novaezelandiae" is a very small freshwater clam, an aquatic bivalve mollusc in the family Sphaeriidae, sometimes known as the fingernail clams.

This species is endemic to New Zealand, and is found throughout the country, including the Chatham and Auckland Islands, buried in the sediments of ponds, lakes, streams and rivers.

The shell is oval, but the anterior side of the shell is medially narrowly rounded to pointed, rarely swollen. The periostracum is yellowish and glossy but usually covered by a dark incrustation. The ligament is externally visible.

Length is up to 8.2 mm, height 6.7 mm, and thickness 4.7 mm.

References

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