wood piddock

The wood piddock, scientifically known as Martesia striata, is a type of marine bivalve mollusk belonging to the family Pholadidae. These mollusks are uniquely adapted to bore into various materials such as rock, shells, hard clay, mud, and waterlogged timbers. They achieve this with serrated cutting edges on their shells.12

Wood piddocks typically inhabit the intertidal zone, though some species can be found in deeper waters. They feed on microscopic organisms, particularly phytoplankton, found in the water. While most piddocks bore to a depth similar to their shell length, some species with extensible siphons can bore much deeper. The wood piddock itself is relatively small, reaching lengths of up to 2.5 centimeters.1