Corbicula fluminea was detected at several locations along the upper freshwater reaches of the Brisbane River in 2023. The distribution of the C. fluminea is being monitored within Southeast Queensland waterways by the Queensland government (Queensland Department of Primary Industries, 2025).

In 2023, ​​​​​​C. fluminea was first discovered on the Waikato River, near Lake Karāpiro in New Zealand (Biosecurity New Zealand, 2023).

It is listed on Australia's Exotic Environmental Pest List (EEPL) reflecting its potential economic and environmental impacts to Australia's environment (DAWE, 2020).

Corbicula fluminea, more commonly known as the freshwater gold clam. 

As the name suggests, they are a golden colour and live in fresh water enviornments. 

Adults are generally 25 mm in size (Gottfried and Osbourne 1982), although individuals can grow up to 70 mm (McMahon 1999).

Shells are oval shaped in juveniles and triangular in adults, and have distinct concentric rings (Parmalee and Bogan 1998). Shell colour ranges from light yellow to dark brown on the outside, with white or purple on the inside. (Parmalee and Bogan 1998; Qiu et al. 2001). See figures for a visual description.  

Adults generally live for three years but can live up to seven years (Aldridge and McMahon 1978; Hall 1984).

They significantly impact aquatic systems, primarily through habitat change and outcompeting native species for resources (Pimentel et al. 2005; Karatayev et al. 2007).

The invasive success of C. fluminea is linked to features such as early sexual maturity, rapid growth, high fecundity, short life span, high survival capabilities, extensive dispersal capacities and colonisation of a wide range of habitat types (Sousa et al. 2008; Morton 1997).