Common Cockle

Cerastoderma edule

The shell of the Common Cockle is cream to pale yellow or brownish, and it has 22-28 radiating ribs crossed by prominant concentric ridges which may bare short spines. Length up to 5cm.

It is found in muddy, sandy and fine gravel shores, from the middle to lower shore. Utilising a muscular foot, it burrows up to 5cm into the sand, and when covered by water they open their shells and extend a pair of short siphons to filter-feed on zooplankton. It can live up to 10 years, and is fished commercially and prayed upon by wading birds. It is common and widespread.

Photographs of Common Cockle (Cerastoderma edule), taken August 2011, Saundersfoot, Wales. © Pete Hillman 2011. Camera used Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38.

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12/1612/16 by Peter Hillman Categories: Animals, Animals (Invertebrates), Bivalves, Molluscs, Nature Photography, Wildlife PhotographyTags: Beach, Bivalves, Cerastoderma edule, Coast, Common Cockle, Macro, Macro Photography, Molluscs, Nature, Nature Photography, Ocean, Sea, Seashells, Seashore, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography 4 Comments