Bohol’s antingaw ranks second in international mollusk contest

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May 2, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  Bohol’s rock-eating shipworm antingaw or Lithoredo abatanica placed second in the 2026 International Mollusk of the Year (IMOY) competition, according to the University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute.

The UPMSI said the Bohol shipworm garnered 5,097 votes, finishing behind the Mediterranean vampire snail, umia intertexta, which won the title.

The antingaw competed against entries from Australia, Italy, Seychelles and the United States.

The UPMSI thanked people who rallied and brought the antingaw to the global stage.

“More than a competition, the International Mollusk of the Year has become a celebration of mollusk diversity across the world. The antingaw, in particular, shone a spotlight on the potential of Philippine shipworms,” the UPMSI said.

The Lithoredo abatanica is the first known shipworm in the country that thrives in and eats through rocks.

The species is found exclusively in the Abatan River, after which it was named.

Like shipworms found in other regions, the antingaw is edible and considered a local delicacy.