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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
Washed up, west coast Northland, NZ. 80mm
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
Geographical Range:
ACF
Notes:
Toheroa, Marine, Native - Endemic
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

Key to Geographical Ranges
NZ Map showing Geographical Ranges
The symbols K.A.C.F.M.An. are used to indicate the geographical range of the species. They have been adopted to give an approximation of the range of each species within New Zealand.
K=
Kermadec Islands
A=
Aupourian - Kaipara Harbour, north around North Cape, encompassing the Three Kings Islands and south to East Cape
C=
Cookian - Lower North Island and the northern part of the South Island
F=
Forsterian - Otago, Fiordland and Stewart Island
M=
Moriorian - Chatham Islands, Pitt Island
An=
Antipodean - Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand
Fw =
Freshwater
L =
Land
N =
North Island
S =
South Island
R =
Recent
Sf =
Subfossil
Fo =
Fossil
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