Myidae: Mya japonica Jay, 1857 (‘Japanese softshell-clam’)

Synonym(s): japonica Jay, 1857.

Typical shell-length 150 mm. Lives subtidally deep within anoxic mud with just the siphon extended to the surface. Not native. Occurs in southeastern Australia (TAS only); also in the NE Pacific (where native) and the NW Pacific (where not native).  Only recently detected in Tasmania, in the Prosser River at Orford, and the subject of a containment strategy to reduce the likelihood of it spreading, pending an assessment of the feasibility of eradication.