Tuatua
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Paphies subtriangulata is a species of edible bivalve clam known as tuatua in the Māori language, a member of the family Mesodesmatidae and endemic to New Zealand. It is found on all three of the main New Zealand islands, buried in fine clean sand on ocean beaches.
The large shell is asymmetrical, with the hinge at one side. Its closest relative, the pipi (Paphies australis), has a symmetrical shell. Due to their shell shape, and how they burrow underneath the sand, they can withstand the high-energy waves from the ocean. Using this knowledge, we can identify where they will adapt the most to, and this is the energetic oceanfront.
The soft parts of the animal are an edible delicacy, made into fritters or boiled and served on the shell. Historically the species has been used as a food source by the Māori, and its shell is 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.
Subspecies
Three subspecies have been recognised:
- Paphies subtriangulata subtriangulata (Wood, 1828)
Distribution: throughout North and South Islands
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Distribution: Chatham Islands
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Distribution: throughout North and South Islands
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References
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- Powell A. W. B., New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 Template:ISBN
- B. Foss Leach, Janet M. Davidson, Meredith Roberthawe, Penelope C. Leach., (2001). " Identification, Nutritional Yield, and Economic Role of Tuatua Shellfish, Paphies spp., in New Zealand Archaeological Sites", The Japanese Society for Oceanic Studies. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
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