Common cockle | |||
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Scientific classification | |||
Domain: | Eukaryota | ||
Kingdom: | Animalia | ||
Phylum: | Mollusca | ||
Class: | Bivalvia | ||
Order: | Cardiida | ||
Family: | Cardiidae | ||
Genus: | Cerastoderma | ||
Species: | C. edule
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Binomial name | |||
Cerastoderma edule | |||
Synonyms | |||
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The common cockle (Cerastoderma edule) is a species of edible saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Cardiidae, the cockles. It is found in waters off Europe, from Iceland in the north, south into waters off western Africa as far south as Senegal. The ribbed oval shells can reach 6 centimetres (2.4 in) across and are white, yellowish or brown in colour. The common cockle is harvested commercially and eaten in much of its range.