Atlantic Muck: Dallocardia muricata

Dallocardia muricata (Linnaeus, 1758)

prickly cockle | berberecho espinoso or cardo espinoso

Description: Shell is ovate and equilateral. Sculpture consists of approximately 30 coarse, radial, inverted-V shaped ribs separated by narrow grooves.

Size: 20-30 mm.

Ecology: inhabits shallow marine waters (5-50 m), burrowing in sand near the sediment surface.

Geological range: Pliocene-Recent (5-0 million years ago).

Geographic distribution: Caribbean – Florida.

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