Teredo

Teredo, a destructive mollusc known as the "Ship-worm." Its popular name is derived from the fact that the animal has a long cylindrical worm-like body, and it lives in burrows in wood submerged in the sea. It has no connection with the worms, but is a Lamellibranch, belonging to the group Adesmacia, which also includes Pholas. The animal has a pair of long siphons enclosed by the mantle which is in the form of a tube; The shell is small and globular, and is situated at the bottom of the burrow; this is lined by calcareous material. The burrows ramify through the wood, the strength of which is thus ruined. Wood used for piles can be protected against the attacks of the ship-worm by a coating of broad-headed nails, while ships are saved by their copper-sheathing. The Teredo is widely distributed in existing seas, and it is known, from the evidence of bored wood, from the Liassic period, onward.