Clinocardium nuttallii (Conrad 1837)

How to Distinguish from Similar Species: Other cockles in the area have an area in the posterior quarter that has prominent concentric ridges as well as radial ribs, or are wider than high; and do not get larger than about 4 cm. The littleneck clam Protothaca staminea has much less prominent radial ribs and the ventral margin does not undulate.

Geographical Range: Bering Sea to San Diego, CA; Japan; very common in Rosario area.

Depth Range: Low intertidal to 200 m; mostly intertidal and shallow subtidal

Cockles are broad, high shells with radial ribs, 2 adductor muscle scars of nearly equal size, cardinal and lateral hinge teeth. Clinocardium nuttallii has a thick shell, is just as high or slightly higher than long, has more than 30 distinct radial ribs covering the entire valve. The ridges becomes undulations on the ventral margins of the valves, which interlock with one another. Height up to 14 cm, but usually less than 5 cm. Shell is usually light tan, mottled with various bands or blotches of brown, especially in younger individuals. Its siphons are short. When buried in the sand, the siphon edges appear white with white hairs radiating from their tips, and with small white globules inside the rim of the incurrent siphon. The cockle's profile from the side is heart-shaped.

Biology/Natural History: Growth rings may be prominent, especially in the northern parts of its range, as this species nearly ceases feeding in winter. Yearly growth lines are much less prominent farther south, but tidal cycle growth lines can often be seen. Mantle margin has tiny tentacles with tiny eyes. Pumps 2.51 liters of water per hour per gram body weight. Predators include Pycnopodia helianthoides, Pisaster brevispinus, and Cancer magister, and gulls. The cockle has a strong escape response to Pycnopodia--rapidly extending its foot and jumping away. May be a source of paralytic shellfish poisoning for humans. A simultaneous hermaphrodite. In Puget Sound they mature in their second year and spawn in July and August. Live 15-19 years in Alaska. May contain small pea crabs such as Pinnixa faba inside the mantle cavity.

Fine sediment, especially muddy fine sand. Lies barely buried in the sediment. Often in eelgrass beds.

Clinocardium is a genus of marine bivalve molluscs in the family Cardiidae, the cockles. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species Clinocardium nuttallii, also known as the basket cockle or Nuttall's cockle, a large edible saltwater clam.

Clinocardium nuttallii büyük bir yenilebilir deniz tarağı türüdür. Yumuşakçalar sınıfının Cardiidae familyasındandır.

Kaliforniya kıyısı ve Pasifik Kuzeybatısına has bir türdür. Bering Denizi'nden Güney Kaliforniya'ya kadar yayılan bu tür, Kaliforniya ve Pasifik Kuzeybatısı yerlileri tarafından yiyecek olarak tüketilmiştir.