Bivalvia | 
Cardiida | 
Cardiidae
			
			
			
				Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range				
				
					Ecology				
				
			
			
				Benthic; brackish; depth range 0 - 5 m (Ref. 125442).  Subtropical, preferred 10°C (Ref. 107945); 71°N -   14°N, 17°W -   33°E (Ref. 107077)			
			
			
				
			
			
			
				Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Black Sea:  from Portugal to Egypt, north to Norway and Russia then south to Senegal, including Mediterranean and Black Sea. Occurrence in Iran, Persian Gulf is questionable.
			
			
			
			
			
				Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
			
			
				Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm Max length : 5.6 cm SHL male/unsexed; (Ref. 101424); common length : 3.5 cm SHL male/unsexed; (Ref. 437); max. reported age: 7 years (Ref. 2823)			
			
			
						
			
			
			
			
				
					The Burry Inlet Cockle Fishery of this species has been certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (http://www.msc.org/) as well-managed and sustainable (http://www.msc.org/html/content_486.htm). Found in shallow coastal and estuary areas (Ref. 95774); in the subtidal zone (Ref. 96507).  Inhabits the seagrass meadows Zostera noltii and Cymodocea nodosa in sand flats (Ref. 106872).  Also found on intertidal muddy sand flat.  Infaunal (Ref. 106873).  A deposit (Ref. 96459), and suspension feeder (Refs. 96498, 106872, 106873) that is a sessile-burrower (Ref. 96498).  Feeds on microphytobenthos and particulate organic matter (Ref. 106873).				
			 
			
			
			
			
				Life cycle and mating behavior				
					Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae				
			
			
				
					Members of the class Bivalvia are mostly gonochoric, some are protandric hermaphrodites.  Life cycle:  Embryos develop into free-swimming trocophore larvae, succeeded by the bivalve veliger, resembling a miniature clam.				
			
			
			
			
			
				Fischer, W., G. Bianchi and W.B. Scott (eds.) 1981 Bivalves. 6: pag.var. In FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Eastern Central Atlantic (fishing areas 34, 47; in part). Canada Funds-in-Trust. Ottawa, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, by arrangement with the Food and AgriculturesOrganization of the United Nations, 1-7: pag.var. (Ref. 437)
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
					
						IUCN Red List Status    
						 (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
					
					
					
				
			
			
			
			
				CITES status   (Ref. 108899)
			
			
				
					Not Evaluated				
			
			
			
			
			
			
				
					Not Evaluated				
			
			
			
			
			
				Threat to humans  
			
			
				
									
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
				Human uses  
			
			
				Fisheries: commercial			
			
			
				FAO - Aquaculture: production; Fisheries: landings, species profile | FishSource | Sea Around Us			
			
			
			
			
			
Tools
			
			
			
			
				
					More information				
				
					 Life cycleReproductionMaturityFecunditySpawningEggsEgg developmentLarvae   PhysiologyOxygen consumption
  Human RelatedStamps, coins, misc.
  
			 
			
			
			
				Internet sources
			
			
			
			
			
				Estimates based on models
			
			
			
									
						Preferred temperature  					
				 (Ref. 
115969): 7.6 - 13.7, mean 10.4 (based on 742 cells).			
 
			
			
			
							
					Resilience  				
				
				
					High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.46-0.66; tmax=7).				
			
			
							
					 Prior r = 0.49, 95% CL = 0.33 - 0.74, Based on 1 data-limited stock assessment.				
						
							
				
					
						Fishing Vulnerability  					
					
					
						Low to moderate vulnerability (28 of 100).					
				
						
							
					
						Climate Vulnerability  					
					
					High vulnerability (56 of 100).				
						
			
			
			
				Nutrients  :  Calcium = 149 [71, 228]  mg/100g; Iron = 8.53 [1.95, 15.11]  mg/100g; Protein = 9.88 [8.64, 11.12] %; Omega3 = 0.313 [0.202, 0.423]  g/100g; Selenium = 61 [50, 72]  μg/100g; VitaminA = 0 μg/100g; Zinc = 2.04 [0.56, 3.51]  mg/100g (wet weight); based on 
nutrient studies.