About Paphies australis (Gmelin, 1791)
Paphies australis, commonly called pipi (pronounced /ˈpɪpi/, with the name coming from the Māori language), is a bivalve mollusc in the family Mesodesmatidae that is endemic to New Zealand. Pipi is a shellfish that has a solid white, elongated symmetrical shell with its apex positioned at the middle. The shell is covered by a thin yellow periostracum. Its closest relative, the tuatua (Paphies subtriangulata), has an asymmetrical shell with an off-centre hinge. Pipi are abundant on flat sandy beaches, in sandy and silty mud in estuaries, and in harbours that have considerable water flow. By releasing a thread of mucus that increases their buoyancy, pipi are able to float in the water column and move to new locations. In areas with suitable living conditions, their population can exceed 1000 individuals per square metre. Pipi are edible and are easy to collect for food. Traditional cooking methods for pipi include boiling and preparing them as fritters, and they are often used as the 'clams' in clam chowder. In New Zealand, the daily harvest limit for pipi is 50 individuals per person. While no minimum size is specified in local regulations, it is recommended that only larger pipi be harvested. For Māori, pipi are a traditional food resource. In earlier times, Māori gathered pipi using purpose-built flax baskets; when the basket was gently swirled through the water, smaller specimens would fall through the gaps between the woven strips back into the beds to continue growing. Pipi reach a maximum length of 83 millimetres (3.3 in) and a maximum height of 51 millimetres (2.0 in).
