MAGNIFICENT MOLLUSCS 10 TOP RECENT DISCOVERIES

SHINY SHELLS

The stripes of bluerayed limpets ( right) could inspire the next generation of ‘augmented reality’ displays. Research has shown that the internal structure of their shells reflects blue light, so the stripes appear to shine even in murky water.

STICKY SOLUTIONS

Substances known as mussel adhesive proteins that many molluscs use to stick to wavepounded rocks are inspiring scientists to make resins that self-heal even in wet conditions. One day they could be used for replacement hip and knee joints.

FLOATING FEATURES

New findings support the theory that ammonites floated in open water like living chambered nautiluses. Using X-rays of fossils, scientists created a 3D model ammonite, measured its weight and volume, and worked out that if the shell had been filled with gas, it would have kept the animal afloat.

ARCTIC RELIC

In 2010 scientists mapping the Arctic Ocean seabed found seashells inside core samples collected over 2.5km below the water’s surface. They were a new genus of mollusc, Wallerconcha, that lived over 1.8 million years ago.

CONE COLOURS

Shining ultraviolet light on fossil cone shells brings their patterns back to life. Traces of organic material in the shell fluoresce, showing where spots and stripes used to be and helping experts to identify long-extinct species.

FEWER NAUTILUSES

Chambered nautiluses ( below)ow) arear being overfished forr theirthei shells and their meat.. HowHowdoowdo we know?now? Well, fisshermen in the Philippinnes lower baited trraps into the deep sea to catch them, and researchersre simmilarly used baited video systems to estimate the size of the population.

DEEP-SEA DISCOS

The flashy displays of disco clams Ctenoides ales ( above) were once thought to be bioluminescence. But studies have shown that they are created when ambient light bounces off a special tissue layer in the mantle. The clams may flash to attract their zooplankton prey and deter predators.

CLAM CA CANCER

Scientists hahave discovered that the leukaemia ia devastating softshell clam msms along the North America can coas st spreads when cacancero ous tumour cells mo ove beetween the molluscs s. Tra ansmissible cancer waas ppreviously only knonow wn in Tasma ma anian devils

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RECORD BREAKER

A deep-sea octopus has been seen brooding her eggs for four-and-ahalf years, a record in the animal kingdom. Researchers conducting regular surveys of Monterey Canyon off California kept seeing the same octopus clinging to a certain spot on a rock face.

BOARD BITES

In only a year, 100 shipworms – actually a type of clam – can chew through 60cm3 of wood. To find this out scientists sank chunks of wood into the deep sea for different periods, then scanned them and revealed the spreading networks of tunnels ( right).