Spotted Cockle [Laevicardium elatum]
Description
Laevicardium elatum, commonly known as the Spotted Cockle, is a species of bivalve belonging to the family Cardiidae. It is generally found in the waters of the Eastern Pacific, ranging from the gulf of Alaska to Baja California. This species tends to inhabit sandy or muddy bottoms of the subtidal zone. Its shell is thick and strong, with a distinctive pattern of dark spots on a light background. The Spotted Cockle is a filter feeder, consuming plankton and other microscopic organisms.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Mollusks
Mollusca
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Clams, Oysters, and Scallops
Bivalvia
|
| Order |
Cockles
Cardiida
|
| Family |
Cockles
Cardiidae
|
| Genus |
Spotted Cockle
Laevicardium
|