New Zealand freshwater mussel

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]

Contents

Distribution

Formerly common in lakes and streams around New Zealand[5].

Life cycle

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]

References

Bibliography