Ross - In the Puget Sound area, that "tingle" would have very likely come
from an unseen jellyfish tentacle that was pulled up at the same time.   
 
> ----------
> From:         Ross Mayhew[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Reply To:     Conchologists of America List
> Sent:         Thursday, December 10, 1998 6:11 AM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Bivalve defence mechanisms
> 
>     Sorry for cross-posting this brief message (and repeating, but i did
> not recieve any plausible replies the first time!) , but there are new
> members recently who may have the answer to this little mystery. Also, it
> would be interesting to hear about unusual defence methods that
> seemingly-innocent bivalves use to avoid being eaten! 
> 
> <While we are on the topic of lip-tingling sensations caused by molluscs,
> i'll add my 2 cents' worth.  Macoma calcarea seems to be capable of
> defending itself by producing either a toxin, or perhaps an electrical
> discharge, although i have not found any reference to this in the
> literature.  When picking up shells on scallop trawlers, i sometimes pop
> them in my mouth for temporary storage (like a chipmunk!), since a
> container on the sorting table would be upset quickly.  Once i did this
> with a Macoma calcarea, and recieved  what felt like the tingling one
> recieves when testing a battery with one's tongue.  I have never heard of
> a similar report, but would be quite interested to know if other bivalves
> have this type of defence mechanism!!> 
>                                                                           
>                                                           -Ross M. 
>  
>