Yellow Cockle (also known as Spiny Cockle)
Phylum: Mollusca, Class: Bivalvia, Order: Cardiida, Family: Cardiidae, Genus: Acanthocardia, Species: Acanthocardia tuberculata · Cardiidae (Cockle family) · Bivalve (two-shelled), whole shell, fan/heart-shaped profile with a prominent rounded, inflated, equilateral valve morphology.
Species
Acanthocardia tuberculata
Shell Type
Bivalve (two-shelled), whole shell, fan/heart-shaped profile with a prominent rounded, inflated, equilateral valve morphology.
Family
Cardiidae (Cockle family)
Size
Approximately 1.5 to 2 inches in width, which is typical for a mature specimen of this species. Adults generally range from 1.5 to 3 inches.
Color & Pattern
Rich golden-yellow to warm orange-brown base color featuring characteristic pale cream or whitish vertical streaks radiating down the prominent ribs. The colors are natural and vibrant with well-preserved warm tones.
Rarity
Common
Habitat
Found in shallow subtidal waters down to modest depths of about 50 meters, inhabiting sandy and muddy bottoms, often buried just beneath the surface in clean marine coastal environments.
Geographic Range
Eastern Atlantic Ocean, ranging from the British Isles down to the Mediterranean Sea and West Africa, matching the reported location context of Portugal.
Description
A sturdy, robust bivalve shell featuring heavy, rounded radial ribs adorned with characteristic tubercles or scaly projections. The margin is deeply scalloped to interlock tightly with the opposing valve. The growth lines are fine and concentric, creating a textured surface that catches the light nicely.
Key Features
Distinguished by its heavy, inflated shape, pronounced radial ribs (typically around 18-24), and the presence of small tubercles or nodes along the ribs, setting it apart from smoother cockle species.
Collector Value
Moderately common and widely collected, valued by beachcombers and regional European shell collectors, generally holding a low to moderate commercial value unless exceptionally large.
Condition Notes
Very good condition with strong, intact margins, rich natural coloration, and minimal wear, grading as a Fine collectible specimen.
Interesting Facts
Cockles are capable of using their strong, muscular foot not only to burrow into the sand with surprising speed but also to leap away from approaching predators like starfish.
Ecological Role
Serves as an important prey item for various carnivorous gastropods, fish, and sea birds, while acting as a benthic filter feeder that helps clear organic particulates from the water column.
Similar Species
Echinocardia echinata (Prickly Cockle), which features sharper, more pronounced spine-like projections on its ribs compared to the blunter tubercles of Acanthocardia tuberculata.
Beach Finding Tips
Look along sandy beaches in southern Europe, especially following heavy storms or at extremely low tides where shifting offshore sands expose intact bivalves.
Notes
Lagos Portugal