| New Zealand freshwater mussel | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Subclass: | Paleoheterodonta |
| Order: | Unionoida |
| Family: | Unionidae |
| Genus: | Echyridella |
| Species: | E. menziesi |
| Binomial name | |
| Echyridella menziesi (Gray, 1843)[1] |
|
The New Zealand freshwater mussel, scientific name Echyridella menziesi, or kakahi, is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusc in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.
They were an important food source for the Māori[2], but like many freshwater mussels worldwide, are now endangered by pollution and eutrophication of rivers, and the introduction of new species of fish[3] leading to actions via the Treaty of Waitangi claims process.[4]
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Formerly common in lakes and streams around New Zealand[5].
Its reproductive cycle is typical of other freshwater mussels, requiring a host fish on which its larvae (glochidia) parasitize and metamorphose into juvenile mussels - most commonly the Koaro (Galaxias brevipinnis)[6][7]