Cerastoderma edule (Linnaeus, 1758)
(Cockle, Common Edible Cockle, Common Cockle)

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesCerastoderma edule (Cockle, Common Edible Cockle, Common Cockle)
GenusCerastoderma (smooth cockles)
SubfamilyLYMNOCARDIINAE (a subfamily of molluscs)
FamilyCARDIIDAE (cockles)
SuperfamilyCARDIOIDEA (cockles)
OrderVENEROIDA (veneroids)
InfraclassEuheterodonta (an infraclass of molluscs)
SubclassHETERODONTA (a subclass of bivalve molluscs)
ClassBIVALVIA (bivalves)
PhylumMOLLUSCA (slugs, snails, bivalves, octopus, sea slugs)
SuperphylumLOPHOTROCHOZOA (molluscs and relatives)
CladeBilateria (bilaterally symmetrical animals)
SubkingdomEUMETAZOA (metazoans)
KingdomANIMALIA (animals)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
Records of Cerastoderma edule (Cockle, Common Edible Cockle, Common Cockle) :
1: Cerastoderma edule (Cockle, Common Edible Cockle, Common Cockle)
25 Apr 2008 OSGR: SZ08 50° 40’ N, 1° 60’ W Vice County: Dorset (VC 9) England
24 dead and moribund paired shells washed up on beach after storm
Image 1: Left valve - hinge line - close-upImage 2: Left valve - inner face - black backgroundImage 3: Left valve - outer face - black backgroundImage 4: Right valve - hinge line - close-upImage 5: Right valve - inner face - black backgroundImage 6: Right valve - outer face - black backgroundImage 7: Shell pair (largest) - inner face - black backgroundImage 8: Shell pair (largest) - inner faces - black backgroundImage 9: Shell pair (largest) - outer face - black backgroundImage 10: Shell pair (largest) - outer faces - black backgroundImage 11: Shell pair (largest) - outer faces - white backgroundImage 12: Shell pair - closed position - anterior view - black backgroundImage 13: Shell pair - closed position - edge view - black backgroundImage 14: Shell pair - closed position - hinge view - black backgroundImage 15: Shell pair - closed position - posterior view - black backgroundImage 16: Shells (larger) - inner faces - black backgroundImage 17: Shells (larger) - inner faces - white backgroundImage 18: Shells (larger) - outer faces - black backgroundImage 19: Shells (larger) - outer faces - white backgroundImage 20: Shells (smaller) - inner faces - black backgroundImage 21: Shells (smaller) - outer faces - black backgroundImage 22: Shell surface sculpture - close-up - enlarged
2: Cerastoderma edule (Cockle, Common Edible Cockle, Common Cockle) IDENTIFICATION UNCERTAIN
16 Jul 2007 OSGR: SN69 52° 30’ N, 4° 0’ W Vice County: Cardigan (VC 46) Wales
dead shells, on sand near high water mark
Image 1: Largest shell (left valve) - inner and outer facesImage 2: Left valve - hinge teeth - close-upImage 3: Right valve - hinge teeth - close-upImage 4: Shells - inner and outer facesImage 5: Shells - inner and outer faces (2)Image 6: Shells - inner and outer faces - on sandImage 7: Shells - outer and inner faces - on sandImage 8: Left valve - hinge teeth - close-up - enlargedImage 9: Right valve - hinge teeth - close-up - enlarged

Identification Works

AuthorYearTitleSource
Bell, M.C. & Walker, P. 2006 Desk study to assess the impact of cockle suction dredging on The Wash and North Norfolk Coast European Marine Site Research Reports EN Report no 670.

Cerastoderma edule (Cockle, Common Edible Cockle, Common Cockle) may also be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Cerastoderma edule (Cockle, Common Edible Cockle, Common Cockle)
BioInfoBioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 1 host/parasite/foodplant and/or other relationships for Cerastoderma edule (Cockle, Common Edible Cockle, Common Cockle)
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