Meet the Philippine entry for International Mollusc of the Year! Lithoredo abatanica, also locally known as “antingaw” in Bohol, is the first known shipworm that lives within and eats through rock.

Not all red seaweeds are red, but they all have a special ability to store sugars in their cells that other seaweeds can’t. One example of a red seaweed is Kappaphycus alvarezii: a major source of carrageenan, a polysaccharide that is used in a variety of commercial products.

The Conus rolani (cone snails) may look small, but don’t underestimate them—they’re members of the Conus genus, the largest group of marine invertebrates with over 800 known species. Typically found in deep-water habitats (60 – 250m), these snails use venom packed with hundreds of peptides to hunt and defend themselves. However, C. rolani and the Asprella group remain understudied.

This International Whale Shark Day, we shed light on what draws the beloved butanding to Donsol! A big part of it is the seasonal changes that influence diatom blooms — a special group of phytoplankton.

Despite the name, shipworms aren’t actually worms—they’re mollusks! They earned their name from their notorious habit of boring into wooden ships.