Lithoredo

{{short description|Species of shipworm}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Morphology of Lithoredo abatanica (cropped to specimens).jpg

| image_caption = Specimens of Lithoredo abatanica: (a) juvenile, (b) small adult, (c) large adult. In, intestine; MC, mantle collar; Pa, pallet; Si, siphon; SV, shell valve. Scale bar = 5 mm.

| genus = Lithoredo

| parent_authority = Shipway, Distel & Rosenberg, 2019

| species = abatanica

| authority = Shipway, Distel & Rosenberg, 2019

}}

Lithoredo is a genus of shipworm native to the Abatan River in the Philippines. It contains a single species, Lithoredo abatanica, described in June 2019.{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1098/rspb.2019.0434|title = A rock-boring and rock-ingesting freshwater bivalve (shipworm) from the Philippines|journal = Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences|volume = 286|issue = 1905|pages = 20190434|year = 2019|last1 = Shipway|first1 = J. Reuben|last2 = Altamia|first2 = Marvin A.|last3 = Rosenberg|first3 = Gary|last4 = Concepcion|first4 = Gisela P.|last5 = Haygood|first5 = Margo G.|last6 = Distel|first6 = Daniel L.|pmid = 31213180|pmc = 6599978|doi-access = free}} The species is unusual because, unlike other shipworms which mainly bore into wood, it tunnels into and excretes limestone. It lacks the cecum which in other shipworms holds symbiotic bacteria which digest wood. Compared to other shipworms, Lithoredo have differently shaped teeth which can finely grindstone. The worms use the tunnels to live in, but their method of eating is not yet known. They may get nutrition from bacteria in their gills.[https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-worm-species-has-eyes-its-butt-and-another-eats-rock-and-poops-sand-180972461/#s9KJ1lAWFEcBrZj8.99 These Two Newly Described Worms Have Really Strange, Yet Marvelous Butts], Jason Daley, Smithsonian, June 21, 2019

File:Borings of Lithoredo abatanica.tif