<em>Acanthocardia paucicostata</em> (G B Sowerby II, 1834)
Peter Barfield
This is an image of the first specimen of the poorly-ribbed cockle, Acanthocardia paucicostata recorded from UK coastal waters. The specimen was found in the west Solent area in 2016 (Barfield, 2017). The shell was given to the National Museum Wales for curation.
Occurs chiefly in the Mediterranean and Black Sea and on the more southern coasts of Europe to Morocco and the Canaries. Reported in continental literature as occuring in England with the first substantiated record published in the Journal of Conchology (Barfield, 2017).
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:
Open an NBN Atlas interactive map of this data in a new window.
Lives in sand offshore from low water to about 300m.
Barfield, P. (2017). First evidence of the poorly ribbed cockle, Acanthocardia paucicostata (G. B. Sowerby II, 1834) in UK waters. Journal of Conchology, 42(6), 537-539.
Taxon details available from MolluscaBase (AphiaID 138993):
Acanthocardia paucicostata (G. B. Sowerby II, 1834)
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.
Shell up to 40mm long, 40mm high, 30mm wide, somewhat thin-shelled, roundish oval. In older adults the shell is slightly produced posteriorly but there is no keel. Strongly radially ribbed, 16-18 ribs, wide-spaced, with fine straight concentric riblets or striations between and across the ribs. An intermittent fine ridge along the ribs. Spines stumpy, tuberculate, enrolled. Ribs shown as fluting on the inside of the shell, generaly extending througout. Growth lines
usually distinct. Teeth very similar to those of the preceding species. Juveniles similar to the adult.