Acanthocardia echinata

Researched By	Lizzie Tyler	Data Supplied By	University of Sheffield
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Acanthocardia echinata	Common name	Prickly cockle
MCS Code	W1943	Recent Synonyms
Phylum	Mollusca	Subphylum
Superclass		Class	Pelecypoda
Subclass		Order	Veneroida
Suborder		Family	Cardiidae
Genus	Acanthocardia	Species	echinata
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References	Schneider, 1992, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Howson & Picton, 1997
General Biology
Growth form	Bivalved	Feeding method	Passive suspension feeder, Active suspension feeder
Mobility/Movement	Burrower	Environmental position	Infaunal
Typical food types	Phytoplankton and suspended organic material	Habit	Free living
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	None (< 10 degrees)
Fragility	Robust	Size	Small-medium(3-10cm)
Height	Not researched	Growth Rate	Not Researched
Adult dispersal potential	Not researched	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information
Biology References	Kioerboe & Moehlenberg, 1981, Tebble, 1966, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Fish & Fish, 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Found on all British and Irish coasts.
Global distribution	Found in north-west Europe from Norway to the Shetlands and south to the Canary Isles and in the Meditteranean.
Biogeographic range	Temperate to warm temperate.	Depth range
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information
Substratum preferences	Muddy gravel, Mud, Muddy sandy gravel, Muddy gravelly sand	Physiographic preferences	Open coast, Offshore seabed, Strait / sound, Estuary, Enclosed coast / Embayment
Biological zone	Upper Infralittoral, Lower Infralittoral, Upper Circalittoral, Lower Circalittoral, Circalittoral Offshore	Wave exposure	Field unresearched
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Field unresearched	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Additional Information
AMBI Group (Borja et al., 2000)	I
Distribution References	Tebble, 1966, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Gonochoristic	Developmental mechanism	Planktotrophic
Reproductive Season	Not researched	Reproductive Location	Water column
Reproductive frequency	Annual episodic	Regeneration potential	No
Life span	11-20 years	Age at reproductive maturity
Generation time	Not researched	Fecundity
Egg/propagule size		Fertilization type	External
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential Not researched Larval settlement period Not researched Duration of larval stage
Additional Information
Reproduction References	Tebble, 1966, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Fish & Fish, 1996, Julie Bremner, unpub data