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posted by on Wednesday April 19 2017, @06:05AM   Printer-friendly
from the delicious-with-a-little-lemon-butter dept.

Five live giant shipworm specimens have been found in Mindanao, Philippines:

Scientists have found live specimens of the rare giant shipworm for the first time, in the Philippines. Details of the creature, which can reach up to 1.55m (5ft) in length and 6cm (2.3in) in diameter, were published in a US science journal.

The giant shipworm spends its life encased in a hard shell, submerged head-down in mud, which it feeds on. Though its existence has been known for years, no living specimen had been studied until now. Despite its name it is actually a bivalve, which is the same group as clams and mussels.

Kuphus shipworms.

Discovery of chemoautotrophic symbiosis in the giant shipworm Kuphus polythalamia (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) extends wooden-steps theory (open, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1620470114) (DX)


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  • (Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 19 2017, @06:24AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 19 2017, @06:24AM (#496164)

    It's the perfect torture device for those Gitmo terrorists the Donald inherited!

    What better way to end the terrorist problem by inserting giant ship worms directly into the anus!

  • (Score: 1, Funny) by aristarchus on Wednesday April 19 2017, @06:41AM

    by aristarchus (2645) on Wednesday April 19 2017, @06:41AM (#496167) Journal

    I rest, in the knowledge that there is an organism, one that may have been on a ship, that may exceed Chief Petty Officer Runaway, in both intelligence, and political acumen. I mean, seriously, with all the posts that Runaway has posted here on SolylentNews, has there really been any evidence that he is not actually a clam, or in this case, a clam that seems to like ships, and worms its way into them. But only if they are wood. Ah ha! More evidence! For if Runaway is not made of wood, he is not a real boy, and he floats, so he is a witch, and "May we burn him?" I only ask because, first, Runaway may actually be a clam on the internet, and second, he either feeds on wood, or is made of wood, and third, well, let us just read what the Great and Fluffy Runaway says in response to this, since all anyone has to do is point out that he is as ignorant as a clam, but not nearly as silent as one, to get some great blustery response. Which is, of course, exactly what a clam on the internets would do. Runaway? It's all your's, bro! Clam away!

  • (Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Wednesday April 19 2017, @12:02PM (2 children)

    by LoRdTAW (3755) on Wednesday April 19 2017, @12:02PM (#496252) Journal

    Blah blah blah sciene nonsense blah blah blah... Wait an minute (reads summary)

    ...which can reach up to 1.55m (5ft) in length and 6cm (2.3in) in diameter...
    ....
    Despite its name it is actually a bivalve, which is the same group as clams and mussels.

    Ho-lee shit. What I really need to know is do they taste good with lemon or smothered in sauce?

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 19 2017, @08:39PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 19 2017, @08:39PM (#496534)

    They would have found them a whole lot sooner if they'd just checked out some of our resident trolls. Woops, I guess that kinda makes me one. Where is my giant ship???

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