We find numerous siphons of these boring clams in the shale beds off Del Monte Beach. It has never been determined how the clams manage to bore into rock such as chert that is much harder than their shells. Depth 13 m.
These cold seep clams were taken from 700 m depth in Monterey Bay Canyon. Symbiotic, intracellular bacteria oxydize hydrogen sulphide gas to synthesize ATP that drives production of organic products, the clams' food, from CO2 and seawater..
