Wazzup Pilipinas!?
In the emerald waters of the Abatan River in Bohol, Philippines, lives a creature that defies the very laws of nature. It is a "shipworm" that has abandoned the sea for fresh water and swapped a diet of wood for solid stone. Now, this geological glutton—the Antingaw—has emerged from its limestone burrows to take the global stage as a finalist for the prestigious International Mollusc of the Year.
A Biological Enigma
Scientifically named Lithoredo abatanica, the Antingaw (also known as the "Philippine Chalk-Chomping Clam") is a master of evolutionary subversion. While its cousins, the tamilok and ugaong, are notorious for devouring wooden ships and mangroves, the Antingaw is the first known shipworm to live within and literally eat through rock.
It possesses a long, fleshy body capped by two jagged, stone-boring shells. Unlike other shipworms that sport small, sharp teeth for wood-working, the Antingaw has evolved large, blunt denticles specifically adapted to crush limestone. In a discovery that stunned the scientific community in 2019, researchers found actual limestone in its stomach, marking it as the first known freshwater invertebrate to burrow by ingesting rock.
The Mystery of the "Chalk-Chomper"
How does an animal survive on a diet of inorganic stone? That remains one of nature’s best-kept secrets. Scientists at the UP Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) speculate that the Antingaw hosts symbiotic microorganisms in its gills—tiny biological factories that may help break down its "diet" of rock into usable nutrients.
"The mechanism of how this odd animal gets nutrients from rock remains a mystery."
The Quest for the Genome
The stakes for this competition are more than just a title. The grand prize for the International Mollusc of the Year is the complete sequencing of the winner's genome. For the researchers at UP MSI and the Department of Science and Technology, this genetic map is the key to a new frontier in biotechnology.
Through the TAMMILOC Project, experts are already investigating how these shipworms and their microbial partners might provide sources for novel therapeutics and industrial compounds. Winning this competition would accelerate the development of life-saving biotechnology products derived directly from this bizarre Filipino clam.
How to Support the Antingaw
The Antingaw is currently locked in a final-stage battle against candidate molluscs from Italy, Australia, Seychelles, and the United States. The winner is decided entirely by public vote.
The Deadline: Voting ends on April 26.
Where to Vote: Cast your vote through the official International Mollusc of the Year voting form.
Representing the Philippines as one of the rarest and strangest species on Earth, the Antingaw is more than just a rock-eater—it is a testament to the incredible biodiversity found in the heart of Bohol.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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