Re: Cephalopod parasites

[bivalve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (David Campbell)]

        The inclusions in Pliocene Mercenaria (also found in various other
venerids, Recent and fossil) are calcite patches without any macroscopic
surface relief.
        Blister pearls are a fairly common response to parasites or other
foreign debris.  A Crassostrea virginica I obtained from the local seafood
market for DNA analysis has a blister pearl with no obvious external
association, although there are numerous clionid-like holes in the outer
layer.

David Campbell   "old seashells"
Department of Geology
CB 3315 Mitchell Hall
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill NC 27599-3315
bivalve@email.unc.edu