Nuttall's cockle, heart cockle, basket cockle • Clinocardium nuttallii
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Photos by Chanda Brietzke (bottom right) and Alanah Nasadyk.
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Identification
This species has a thick shell that is approximately as high as it is long (click here for information on shell orientation). It bears 34-38 strong, undulating ribs - the undulating quality of the ribs is visible in the bottom right photo. Nuttall's cockle reaches 14 cm in length and has a heart-shaped profile. The margins of the shell valves are marked by wavy lines (visible in the top photo). The shell is usually tan with some brown mottling or banding. The yellow-brown siphons are short, though they do show at the sediment surface.
Habitat & Range
This species is found buried just beneath the surface of fine sand-gravel sediment, often among eelgrass beds. It inhabits the intertidal and shallow subtidal of protected shores. It widespread and common but not usually present in high concentrations. Its range extends from Kamchatka across the Bering Sea to Alaska and south to southern California.
Similar Species
Most other cockle species are usually smaller and are either not as high as they are long, or have a section at the posterior end that is marked by strong ridges running perpendicular to the ribs. Similar cockles found in BC are the hairy cockle (Clinocardium ciliatum), the Aleutian cockle (C. californiense), and the low-rib cockle (C. blandum).
Human Uses
Nuttall's cockle is a traditional food source of coastal First Nations groups. It is also harvested by recreational diggers, but as of yet is not a target for commercial bivalve harvests as is tend to occur in concentrations too low to be profitable. However there have recently been investigations into its potentiality for aquaculture.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/69925-Clinocardium-nuttallii
Intriguing Info
Nuttall's cockle can protrude its large yellow foot to escape from predators such as the sunflower star (Pycnopodia helianthoides). The effectiveness of this escape response can be seen in the following video:
This species has a thick shell that is approximately as high as it is long (click here for information on shell orientation). It bears 34-38 strong, undulating ribs - the undulating quality of the ribs is visible in the bottom right photo. Nuttall's cockle reaches 14 cm in length and has a heart-shaped profile. The margins of the shell valves are marked by wavy lines (visible in the top photo). The shell is usually tan with some brown mottling or banding. The yellow-brown siphons are short, though they do show at the sediment surface.
Habitat & Range
This species is found buried just beneath the surface of fine sand-gravel sediment, often among eelgrass beds. It inhabits the intertidal and shallow subtidal of protected shores. It widespread and common but not usually present in high concentrations. Its range extends from Kamchatka across the Bering Sea to Alaska and south to southern California.
Similar Species
Most other cockle species are usually smaller and are either not as high as they are long, or have a section at the posterior end that is marked by strong ridges running perpendicular to the ribs. Similar cockles found in BC are the hairy cockle (Clinocardium ciliatum), the Aleutian cockle (C. californiense), and the low-rib cockle (C. blandum).
Human Uses
Nuttall's cockle is a traditional food source of coastal First Nations groups. It is also harvested by recreational diggers, but as of yet is not a target for commercial bivalve harvests as is tend to occur in concentrations too low to be profitable. However there have recently been investigations into its potentiality for aquaculture.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/69925-Clinocardium-nuttallii
Intriguing Info
Nuttall's cockle can protrude its large yellow foot to escape from predators such as the sunflower star (Pycnopodia helianthoides). The effectiveness of this escape response can be seen in the following video:
References
Cowles, D. (2005). Clinocardium nuttallii (Conrad, 1837). Invertebrates of the Salish Sea. Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory. Accessed 03/09/2014.
Harbo, R. M. (2011). Whelks to whales: Coastal marine life of the Pacific Northwest. 2nd ed. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing. P.125.
Lamb, A., and Hanby, B. (2005). Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest [electronic resource]. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell and Brian Starzomski (2014).
Cowles, D. (2005). Clinocardium nuttallii (Conrad, 1837). Invertebrates of the Salish Sea. Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory. Accessed 03/09/2014.
Harbo, R. M. (2011). Whelks to whales: Coastal marine life of the Pacific Northwest. 2nd ed. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing. P.125.
Lamb, A., and Hanby, B. (2005). Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest [electronic resource]. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell and Brian Starzomski (2014).
