teredo

/təˈriːdoʊ/
noun
  1. A type of marine bivalve mollusk that bores into and destroys submerged wood; a shipworm.
    • Sailors once feared the teredo because it weakened their ships.
    • The teredo can ruin a wooden dock in just a few years.
    • Teredo tunnels are lined with a hard, chalky substance.
Synonyms