Acanthocardia tuberculata

Warty cockle ( Acanthocardia tuberculata )

The Warty cockle or Gnarled cockle ( Acanthocardia tuberculata ) is a species of bivalve mollusc of the order Veneroida.

Features

The housing of the warty cockle reached a diameter of 3 to 9 cm. The surface is ornamented with 20 to 24 ribs, sometimes also bear spines. The castle has two cardinal teeth and two front side and a rear side teeth tooth in the right valve. The left flap there are two roughly equal cardinal teeth. The housing gapes at the back end slightly. The front and rear sphincter are approximately equal ( isomyar ). The siphons are relatively short and the lateral line is ganzrandig ( integripalliat ).

Lifestyle and deposits

The habitat of the warty cockle are muddy, sandy or gravel substrates from the intertidal zone to the continental shelf beyond 100 m depth.

Dissemination

The range of the species extends Norway to Morocco. It penetrates also into the Mediterranean Sea and has its maximum spread in the Mediterranean.

Commercial importance

The Warty cockle is fished and eaten in the Mediterranean region. The flaps are used as well as the other cockle species for the production of jewelry.