Outside of left valve
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Light Killeen from Priory Bay. SS140972. 12/3/1997.. Height = 56mm.
Acanthocardia echinata
<em>Acanthocardia echinata</em> (Linnaeus, 1758)
Detail of valve surface
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Killeen/Light from Fairlie Channel, Cumbrae. 55o44.7'N 04o52.6'W. (16/8/1991). Height = 45mm.
Detail of valve surface
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Killeen/Light from Fairlie Channel, Cumbrae. 55o44.7'N 04o52.6'W. (16/8/1991). Height = 45mm.
Outside of right valve
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Killeen/Light from Fairlie Channel, Cumbrae. 55o44.7'N 04o52.6'W. (16/8/1991). Height = 45mm.
Outside of left valve
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Killeen/Light from Fairlie Channel, Cumbrae. 55o44.7'N 04o52.6'W. (16/8/1991). Height = 45mm.
Acanthocardia echinata
Vernacular names
Prickly cockle
Distribution and status
Common. Distributed from Iceland and Norway south to the Iberian Peninsula and into the Mediterranean.
Acanthocardia echinata
The map provided here shows the distribution of the species based on Conchological Society data held by the National Biodiversity Network (NBN). See terms and conditions.
The following datasets are included:
- Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland: marine mollusc records
Open an NBN Atlas interactive map of this data in a new window.
Ecology and behaviour
Burrows in sand, muddy sand and muddy gravel where it filters phytoplankton. Spat and small juveniles frequently lodged amongst small littoral and circa-littoral algae.
Key identification features
- Ribs are decorated with spines (though may be worn)
- Coarse concentric striations or ribliets lie between and extend over the ribs
References and links
Taxon details available from MolluscaBase (AphiaID 138992):
Acanthocardia echinata (Linnaeus, 1758)
For the species account provided by Marine Bivalves of the British Isles click here.
The UK NBN Atlas entry for the species can be accessed via this link.
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000173548]
Sort order
10250
Taxonomic group
Marine bivalve
Up to 60mm long, 60mm high, 45mm across, adults plump and round, perhaps a little produced posteriorly but not keeled. About 20 strong radial ribs, fewer in juveniles.