First living giant shipworm discovered

A live specimen of the rare giant shipworm has been found for the first time, in the Philippines. Though its existence has been known for centuries, no living specimen has been studied until now

GIANT SHIPWORM
Kuphus polythalamia

Longest living bivalve – same group as clams and mussels

Belongs to shipworm family. Members – usually much smaller – burrow and feed on
rotting wood

Length: 1.55m

Diameter 6cm

Average size similar to baseball bat

Shell: Shipworm lives encased in tube of calcium carbonate, submerged head-down
in mud

Hard cap: Re-absorbed when shipworm grows and burrows further into mud

Scientists from U.S., Philippines and France collected five giant shipworms
in marine bay in Mindanao

Siphons: Take in and expel water

Feeding: Bacteria living in gills use hydrogen sulphide in mud as energy to produce
organic carbon to feed shipworm

Digestive organs: Shrunk from lack of use

Mouth

Sources: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS),

University of Utah Picture: PNAS.ORG