''Acanthocardia aculeata'', the spiny cockle, is a species of saltwater clams, marine

bivalve Bivalvia () or bivalves, in previous centuries referred to as the Lamellibranchiata and Pelecypoda, is a class (biology), class of aquatic animal, aquatic molluscs (marine and freshwater) that have laterally compressed soft bodies enclosed b ...

mollusc Mollusca is a phylum of protostome, protostomic invertebrate animals, whose members are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 76,000 extant taxon, extant species of molluscs are recognized, making it the second-largest animal phylum ...

s in the family

Cardiidae A cockle is an edible marine bivalve mollusc. Although many small edible bivalves are loosely called cockles, true cockles are species in the family Cardiidae.>MolluscaBase eds. (2022). MolluscaBase. Cardiidae Lamarck, 1809. Accessed through: W ...

. The genus ''

Acanthocardia ''Acanthocardia'' is a genus of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Cardiidae. They are infaunal suspension feeders. Species There are six extant species: * '' Acanthocardia aculeata'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * '' Acanthocardia ...

'' is present from the Upper

Oligocene The Oligocene ( ) is a geologic epoch (geology), epoch of the Paleogene Geologic time scale, Period that extends from about 33.9 million to 23 million years before the present ( to ). As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that defin ...

to the Recent.

Description

The shell of ''Acanthocardia aculeata'' can reach a size of 50–115 mm. This shell is robust, broadly oval, with a heart-shaped profile, equivalve and inflated, with crenulated margins. The surface shows 20-22 prominent radial ribs, with rows of sharp spines, especially at sides. The basic coloration is usually pale brown. The interior is white, with grooves extending throughout the inside.

Right and left valve of the same specimen: File:Acanthocardia aculeata 01.jpg, Right valve File:Acanthocardia aculeata 02.jpg, Left valve

Distribution and habitat

''Acanthocardia aculeata'' can be found in the

Mediterranean Sea The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern Eur ...

and in North East Atlantic. This species is present in sublittoral muddy sands. These mollusks are

phytoplankton Phytoplankton () are the autotrophic (self-feeding) components of the plankton community and a key part of ocean and freshwater Aquatic ecosystem, ecosystems. The name comes from the Greek language, Greek words (), meaning 'plant', and (), mea ...

feeders.

References

* Repetto G., Orlando F. & Arduino G. (2005): Conchiglie del Mediterraneo, Amici del Museo "Federico Eusebio", Alba, Italy
Biolib

Encyclopedia of life

Marlin

World Register of Marine Species
Cardiidae Bivalves described in 1758 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus {{Cardiidae-stub