Common cockle

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Common cockle
Coques.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Cardiida
Family: Cardiidae
Genus: Cerastoderma
Species:
C. edule
Binomial name
Cerastoderma edule
Synonyms
  • Cardium belgicum De Malzine, 1867
  • Cardium crenulatum Lamarck, 1819
  • Cardium edule Linnaeus, 1758 (basionym)
  • Cardium edule burchanae Girscher, 1938
  • Cardium edule var. batesoni Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1892
  • Cardium edule var. loppensi Mars, 1951
  • Cardium edule var. major Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1892
  • Cardium mercatorium Coen, 1915
  • Cardium nunninkae Lucas, 1984
  • Cardium obtritum Locard, 1886
  • Cardium quadrarium Reeve, 1845
  • Cardium vulgare Da Costa, 1778
  • Cerastoderma edule var. sinicola Lacourt, 1974
  • Cerastoderma nunninkae Lucas, 1984

The common cockle (Cerastoderma edule) is a species of edible saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Cardiidae, the cockles. It is found in waters off Europe, from Iceland in the north, south into waters off western Africa as far south as Senegal. The ribbed oval shells can reach 6 centimetres (2.4 in) across and are white, yellowish or brown in colour. The common cockle is harvested commercially and eaten in much of its range.

Contents

Taxonomy and naming

Cerastoderma edule a) foot b) exhalant siphon c) branchial or inhalant siphon d) edge of mantle e) ligament f) umbones or beaks of the shell Cerastoderma edule 001.png
Cerastoderma edule a) foot b) exhalant siphon c) branchial or inhalant siphon d) edge of mantle e) ligament f) umbones or beaks of the shell

The common cockle was one of the many invertebrate species originally described by Carl Linnaeus in the landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae , where it was given its old binomial name Cardium edule. [2] The species name is derived from the Latin adjective ĕdūlis, 'edible'. [3] Italian naturalist Giuseppe Saverio Poli erected the genus Cerastoderma in 1795, making the common cockle the type species as Cerastoderma edule. [4] The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek words κέρας (keras, 'horn') and δέρμα (derma, 'skin'). [5] For many years it was referred to by both names. [4]

Other common names in English are edible cockle and common edible cockle. [1] On account of its heart-like shape, it is called the 'heart mussel' in German and Scandinavian languages (Hertzmuschel and hjertemusling, respectively). [6]

Description

It typically reaches from 3.5 centimetres (1.4 in) to 5 centimetres (2.0 in) in length, [7] but sometimes it reaches 6 centimetres (2.4 in). [6] The shells are pale or whitish yellow, grubby white, or brown. [6] [7] The shell is oval, and covered by ribs, which are flattened in the middle part of the shell. The digestive glands are light brown to dark green. [4]

In contrast, the similar lagoon cockle has an elongated shell posteriorly, black digestive glands and is found in substrate of stagnant water. [4]

Distribution and habitat

This species is found in coastal areas of the northern and eastern Atlantic Ocean. It is widely distributed from Iceland and Norway in Europe, to Senegal along the coast of west Africa. [6] [7] The common cockle is one of the most abundant species of molluscs in tidal flats located in the bays and estuaries of Europe. It plays a major role as a source of food for crustaceans, fish, and wading birds.

Cerastoderma edule
Right and left valve of the same specimen:

Cerastoderma edule var. belgicum
Right and left valve of the same specimen:

Cerastoderma edule var. loppensi
Right and left valve of the same specimen:

Cerastoderma edule var. maculatum
Right and left valve:

Ecology

This species is a filter feeder, meaning that it feeds by straining water to obtain suspended matter and food particles. [8] Water is inhaled through an inhalant siphon, and exhaled through an exhalant siphon. [7]

It tolerates a wide range of salinity (euryhaline), and wide range of temperatures (eurythermic), which helps to explain its very extensive range. It has a first spawning period in early summer, and a second one in the fall. Lifespan is typically five to six years, though it may perish earlier due to predation by humans as well as crabs, flounder, and various birds especially including oystercatchers. [8] A green shore crab ( Carcinus maenas ) can consume up to 40 common cockles a day, eating smaller cockles (under 1.5 cm diameter) much more quickly than larger ones. Hence they could have a greater impact in lean seasons where cockles did not grow so quickly. [9]

Parasites and diseases

The cercozoan species Marteilia cochillia is a parasite of the common cockle, having caused a collapse in commercial harvests of cockle beds in Galicia in 2012. [10] A survey of cockle beds in Galicia found that infestation by the gregarine parasite Nematopsis was widespread, and that the most common pathological finding was disseminated neoplasia. [11]

Uses

Cockle shell ridges imprinted in fragment of Neolithic Cardial ware Cardial Impression 2.jpg
Cockle shell ridges imprinted in fragment of Neolithic Cardial ware

These animals were probably a significant food source in hunter-gatherer societies of prehistoric Europe, and the clay remains of shell-imprints have been found. The clay is imprinted with fine decorations, repetitions of the distinct curved ridges, undulating lines and/or edges characteristic to the cockle shell, a natural resource of coastal waters.

Cardial ware is the name of the Neolithic pottery from maritime cultures that colonized Mediterranean shores c. 6000 – 5,500 BC, this name being based upon the old binomial name of the species: Cardium edule.

In the 1800s, a song called "Molly Malone" was first published (also known as "Cockles and Mussels"), later becoming the unofficial song of Dublin, Ireland. The lyrics describe Molly Malone selling the common cockle in the streets of that city. [6]

As food

Cockle bed with cockles (Cerastoderma edule) near De Cocksdorp on the island of Texel in the Dutch province of North Holland Ecomare - kokkelbank (wad-cocksdorp-kokkelbank-90-idp).jpg
Cockle bed with cockles (Cerastoderma edule) near De Cocksdorp on the island of Texel in the Dutch province of North Holland

This cockle is eaten in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Portugal and Spain and elsewhere. It is generally cooked but is also sometimes eaten pickled or raw. [6] In addition to the meat being a food source, their shells have been used industrially as a source of lime. [5]

An important species for the fishing industry, it is commercially fished in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France by suction dredge and also raking by hand. Previously the greatest catch was from the Netherlands, but now restrictions have been put in place due to environmental concerns. Similar measures have been established elsewhere, for example in Scotland where dredging using vehicles is prohibited, and in parts of England and Wales where only old-fashioned hand-gathering is permitted (using a long plank that is rocked back and forth on the sand). [12] In 2004, the incoming tide at Morecambe Bay in England caused 23 cockle-gatherers to die. [5]

This species is also used in aquaculture in the UK, the Netherlands and Portugal. However, production has not been stable; for example, production fell from 107,800 tons in 1987 to 40,900 tons in 1997. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clam</span> Common name for several kinds of bivalve molluscs

Clam is a common name for several kinds of bivalve molluscs. The word is often applied only to those that are edible and live as infauna, spending most of their lives halfway buried in the sand of the seafloor or riverbeds. Clams have two shells of equal size connected by two adductor muscles and have a powerful burrowing foot. They live in both freshwater and marine environments; in salt water they prefer to burrow down into the mud and the turbidity of the water required varies with species and location; the greatest diversity of these is in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cockle (bivalve)</span> Family of edible marine bivalve molluscs

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue mussel</span> Species of mollusc

The blue mussel, also known as the common mussel, is a medium-sized edible marine bivalve mollusc in the family Mytilidae, the mussels. Blue mussels are subject to commercial use and intensive aquaculture. A species with a large range, empty shells are commonly found on beaches around the world.

<i>Cancer pagurus</i> Species of crustacean

Cancer pagurus, commonly known as the edible crab or brown crab, is a species of crab found in the North Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and perhaps the Mediterranean Sea. It is a robust crab of a reddish-brown colour, having an oval carapace with a characteristic "pie crust" edge and black tips to the claws. A mature adult may have a carapace width up to 25 centimetres and weigh up to 3 kilograms. C. pagurus is a nocturnal predator, targeting a range of molluscs and crustaceans. It is the subject of the largest crab fishery in Western Europe, centred on the coasts of the Ireland and Britain, with more than 60,000 tonnes caught annually.

<i>Carcinus maenas</i> Species of invasive crab

Carcinus maenas is a common littoral crab. It is known by different names around the world. In the British Isles, it is generally referred to as the shore crab, or green shore crab. In North America and South Africa, it bears the name European green crab.

<i>Carcinus aestuarii</i> Species of crab

Carcinus aestuarii, also known as the Mediterranean green crab is a littoral crab, native to the Mediterranean Sea.

<i>Limecola balthica</i> Species of bivalve

Limecola balthica, commonly called the Baltic macoma, Baltic clam or Baltic tellin, is a small saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Tellinidae.

<i>Cerastoderma</i> Genus of bivalves

Cerastoderma is a genus of marine bivalves in the family Cardiidae. It includes the common cockle Cerastoderma edule.

<i>Tegillarca granosa</i> Species of bivalve

Tegillarca granosa is a species of ark clam known as the blood cockle or blood clam due to the red haemoglobin liquid inside the soft tissues. It is found throughout the Indo-Pacific region from the eastern coast of South Africa northwards and eastwards to Southeast Asia, Australia, Polynesia, and up to northern Japan. It lives mainly in the intertidal zone at one to two metres water depth, burrowed down into sand or mud. Adult size is about 5 to 6 cm long and 4 to 5 cm wide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grooved carpet shell</span> Species of bivalve

The grooved carpet shell, or Palourde clam, Ruditapes decussatus, or Venerupis decussatus, is a clam in the family Veneridae. It is distributed worldwide and is highly prized due to its ecological and economic interest. It has been proposed as a bioindicator.

<i>Mya truncata</i> Species of bivalve

Mya truncata, common name the blunt gaper or truncate softshell, is a species of edible saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Myidae.

<i>Pecten maximus</i> Species of mollusc, also called St James shell

Pecten maximus, common names the great scallop, king scallop, St James shell or escallop, is a northeast Atlantic species of scallop, an edible saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Pectinidae. This is the type species of the genus. This species may be conspecific with Pecten jacobaeus, the pilgrim's scallop, which has a much more restricted distribution.

<i>Liocarcinus depurator</i> Species of crab

Liocarcinus depurator, sometimes called the harbour crab or sandy swimming crab, is a species of crab found in the North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea. It grows up to 50 millimetres (2.0 in) in width and 40 mm (1.6 in) long, and can be distinguished from other crabs, such as the shore crab Carcinus maenas, by the curved rows of white spots on its carapace.

Haplosporidium is a genus in the order Haplosporida.

Marteilia is a protozoan genus of organisms that are parasites of bivalves. It causes QX disease in Sydney rock oysters and Aber disease in European flat oysters. After being infected by Marteilia, bivalves lose pigmentation in their visceral tissue, and become emaciated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crabs of the British Isles</span>

Around 65 species of crab occur in the waters of the British Isles. All are marine, with the exception of the introduced Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, which occurs in fresh and brackish water. They range in size from the deep-water species Paromola cuvieri, which can reach a claw span of 1.2 metres, to the pea crab, which is only 4 mm (0.16 in) wide and lives inside mussel shells.

<i>Cerastoderma glaucum</i> Species of bivalve

Cerastoderma glaucum, the lagoon cockle, is a species of saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Cardiidae, the cockles.

<i>Acanthocardia echinata</i> Species of bivalve

Acanthocardia echinata, the prickly cockle or European prickly cockle, is a species of saltwater clam, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Cardiidae.

References

  1. 1 2 Jan Johan ter Poorten & Serge Gofas (2011). "Cerastoderma edule (Linnaeus, 1758)". World Register of Marine Species. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  2. ↑ Linnaeus, Carl (1758). Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis (in Latin). Vol. I (10th revised ed.). Holmiae: (Laurentii Salvii). p. 681. Archived from the original on 2019-08-15. Retrieved 2017-11-24– via Internet Archive.
  3. ↑ Simpson, D.P. (1979). Cassell's Latin Dictionary (5th ed.). London: Cassell Ltd. p. 207. ISBN   0-304-52257-0.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Boyden, C. R. (1971). "A note on the nomenclature of two European cockles". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 50 (3): 307–10. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1971.tb00765.x.
  5. 1 2 3 Chambers, Paul. British Seashells: A Guide for Collectors and Beachcombers , p. 158 (Casemate Publishers, 2009).
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Davidson, Alan (2014). The Oxford Companion to Food. Oxford University Press. p. 201. ISBN   978-0-19-104072-6. Archived from the original on 2023-10-07.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Considine, Douglas and Considine, Glenn. Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia Archived 2023-10-07 at the Wayback Machine , p. 2086 (Springer Science & Business Media, 2013).
  8. 1 2 Dauvin, Jean-Claude. Biological heritage and food chains Archived 2023-10-07 at the Wayback Machine , p. 25 (Quae, Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement, 2006).
  9. ↑ Sanchez-Salazar, M.E.; Griffiths, C.L.; Seed, R. (1987). "The effect of size and temperature on the predation of cockles Cerastoderma edule (L.) by the shore crab Carcinus maenas (L.)". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 111 (2): 181–93. Bibcode:1987JEMBE.111..181S. doi:10.1016/0022-0981(87)90054-2.
  10. ↑ Villalba, Antonio; Iglesias, David; Ramilo, Andrea; Darriba, Susana; Parada, Jose M.; No Couto, Edgar; Abollo, Elvira; Molares, Jose; Carballal, MJ (2014). "Cockle Cerastoderma edule fishery collapse in the Ría de Arousa (Galicia, NW Spain) associated with the protistan parasite Marteilia cochillia". Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 109 (1): 55–80. doi: 10.3354/dao02723 . PMID   24781796.
  11. ↑ Carballal, Marıa Jesus; Iglesias, David; Santamarina, Jesús; Ferro-Soto, Beatriz; Villalba, Antonio (2001). "Parasites and Pathologic Conditions of the Cockle Cerastoderma edule Populations of the Coast of Galicia (NW Spain)" (PDF). Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 78 (2): 87–97. Bibcode:2001JInvP..78...87C. doi:10.1006/jipa.2001.5049. PMID   11812111. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-26.
  12. ↑ Aikens, Tom. Fish Archived 2023-10-07 at the Wayback Machine , p. 547 (Random House, 2012).
  13. ↑ Spencer, Brian. Molluscan Shellfish Farming , p. 103 (John Wiley & Sons, 2008).
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