Theora lubrica is a bivalve mollusc endemic to the Northwest Pacific, including northern Japan, southern Russia and Hong Kong.[1] It was introduced into harbours around the North Island of New Zealand around 1972, and has since spread to the upper South Island.[2] [3] It has also been introduced to California, Australia, the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Sea.[1]
Theora lubrica is a deposit feeder with a thin, nearly transparent shell.[3] Theora lubrica is mud-tolerant and lives in burrows on subtidal and lower intertidal flats.[3] [1] Theora lubrica is considered a pollution-indicator species as it is tolerant of pollution and is often found to be abundant in polluted sediments.[3] [1]