# Nuttall's Cockle (*Clinocardium nuttallii*) Nuttall's Cockle is a small, round shellfish that lives in sandy ocean floors. Its shell is smooth and can be found on beaches, making it fun to collect and look at! - **Category:** [Invertebrate](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/invertebrate) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Nuttall's Cockle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/FMIB_52944_Cardium_corbis_%28young_specimen%29.jpeg&width=800) Photo: Augusta Foote Arnold, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FMIB_52944_Cardium_corbis_%28young_specimen%29.jpeg) ## Appearance The Nuttall's Cockle has a large, thick, heart-shaped shell with prominent, evenly-spaced ribs radiating from the hinge. Its color ranges from pale cream to yellowish-brown, often with darker concentric growth rings, and it lacks any spines or elaborate patterns. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Mollusca - **Class:** Bivalvia - **Order:** Cardiida - **Family:** Cardiidae - **Genus:** Clinocardium ## Interesting facts - If you ever find a live one, you might feel it wiggle its powerful, tongue-like foot in your hand! - The Nuttall's Cockle has a strong muscle that snaps its shell shut super tight for safety! - These amazing cockles can live for more than 10 years if conditions are just right in their ocean home! - You can sometimes spot their tiny 'breathing tubes' sticking out of the sand at low tide! ## Special abilities - **Quick Burrower:** Nuttall's Cockle can rapidly dig into the sand using its powerful, wedge-shaped foot that helps them escape predators quickly. - **Water Filter:** Nuttall's Cockle can filter tiny food particles and plankton from the water using specialized siphons that help them eat and breathe. - **Oxygen Extractor:** Nuttall's Cockle has specialized gills inside its shell that pull oxygen from the surrounding seawater, allowing them to breathe underwater. ## Measurements & details - **Size:** 5-15 cm - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years ## Diet & Feeding Nuttall's Cockles are tiny water cleaners, constantly filtering out microscopic food from the ocean. - **Primary Foods:** phytoplankton, zooplankton, detritus, microscopic organisms - **Foraging Method:** Filter feeding ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Purple Sea Star (*Pisaster ochraceus*) — A common predator - **Eaten by:** [Sea Otter](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sea-otter) (*Enhydra lutris*) — Cracks shells open - **Eaten by:** [Western Gull](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-gull) (*Larus occidentalis*) — Picks from exposed sand ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Mollusks](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mollusks) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash your hands after touching shells or sea creatures. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Nuttall's Cockle? Compare the overall shape, opening, spiral, ribs, hinge and surface sculpture. Beach shells often lose the colors and sharp edges they had on the living animal, so shape does most of the work. Seashell Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How big is Nuttall's Cockle? 5-15 cm ### How long does Nuttall's Cockle live? 10-15 years ### What does Nuttall's Cockle eat? Nuttall's Cockles are tiny water cleaners, constantly filtering out microscopic food from the ocean. ### Where is Nuttall's Cockle usually found? Coastal areas ### How does Nuttall's Cockle hunt? Filter feeding ## Where to spot - [Chicken Ridge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chicken-ridge-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Amalik Bay Archeological District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/amalik-bay-archeological-district) — US · Historic District - [Sandwell Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sandwell-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Gabriola Sands Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gabriola-sands-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Stephenson Canyon Community Greenway](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/stephenson-canyon-community-greenway) — Washington, US · Park [View all places to see Nuttall's Cockle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/nuttalls-cockle) ## More Invertebrate - [Coral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coral) - [Crab Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crab-spider) (*Mecaphesa asperata*) - [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Araneus diadematus*) - [Brown Recluse Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-recluse-spider) (*Loxosceles reclusa*) --- Source: [Nuttall's Cockle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/nuttalls-cockle)