Common cockle

Cerastoderma edule

Common cockles are burrowing bivalves that live in sandy or muddy coastal flats. Their ribbed shells look heart-shaped when viewed from the side.

Not a fish · an aquatic neighbor

Water

Saltwater + Brackish

Intertidal sand and mud flats, estuaries, and sheltered coastal sediments.

Temperature

Range not established

A dependable species-specific wild temperature range was not found in the selected sources.

Size

Up to about 5 cm (2 in) long

About the size of a large grape

Lifespan

Usually about 5–10 years.

Life expectancy varies with place, conditions, and what scientists have been able to observe.

01 · Signature adaptation

What does it do?

Common cockles bury themselves in the upper few centimeters of sediment. They filter-feed when covered by water and can be dislodged by storms or strong winter waves.

Its superpowerA muscular foot lets it burrow into sediment and hold its position.

02 · Home coordinates

Where does it live?

Along Atlantic European and North African coasts, including the North Sea and parts of the Mediterranean.

Regions: Atlantic Europe · North Africa · North Sea · Mediterranean

03 · The menu

What does it eat?

It pumps water through its siphons and gills, filtering small particles from the water.

Filter feeder: phytoplankton, microalgae, suspended organic particles.

04 · Remember this

Two wow facts

Heart-like outline

The strong ribs and rounded shape make the shell resemble a heart from the side.

Sources [1]

Sediment filter

Cockles live just below the surface of mud or sand while filtering food from the water above them.

Sources [1] [2]