Dog cockle (Glycymeris glycymeris)

Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). To interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.Map Help

Summary

Description

The shell is thick, robust, almost circular in shape and up to 6.5 cm. The anterior hinge line curves more abruptly downwards than posterior. The shell is dull brown, yellow, or light purplish-red in colour. Shells can be either uniformly coloured or exhibit irregular concentric zigzags on a cream background. The periostracum is dark brown and remains as a broad band around the margins of the shell, and is course and velvety to the touch. The inside of the shell is usually brown within the pallial line. The inner surface of the shell has 6-12 teeth on either side of the beak.

Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland

Found around the Shetland Islands, the Orkneys, the south and west coasts of Britain, Northern Ireland and Blacksod Bay, Ireland.

Global distribution

Distributed from Norway to the Mediterranean and west Africa.

Habitat

This species is a shallow burrower in fine shell gravels or sandy/muddy gravels and can be found offshore to approximately 100 m depth.

Depth range

-

Identifying features

  • Shell is thick and circular.
  • Uniform or zigzag colouring.
  • Dull brown, yellow or light purplish red in colour.
  • The inner surface of the shell has 6-12 teeth on either side of the beak.
  • Dark brown periostracum around the margin of the shell.

Additional information

Analaysis of dredge material revelaed that Glycymeris glycymeris is an important habitat for the hemichordate Rhabdopleura compacta (Stebbing, 1970).

Listed by

- none -

Further information sources

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Bibliography

  1. Fish, J.D. & Fish, S., 1996. A student's guide to the seashore. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

  2. Hayward, P.J. & Ryland, J.S. (ed.) 1995b. Handbook of the marine fauna of North-West Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

  3. Howson, C.M. & Picton, B.E., 1997. The species directory of the marine fauna and flora of the British Isles and surrounding seas. Belfast: Ulster Museum. [Ulster Museum publication, no. 276.]

  4. JNCC (Joint Nature Conservation Committee), 1999. Marine Environment Resource Mapping And Information Database (MERMAID): Marine Nature Conservation Review Survey Database. [on-line] http://www.jncc.gov.uk/mermaid

  5. Stebbing, A.R.D., 1970. The status and ecology of Rhabdopleura compacta (Hemichordata) from Plymouth. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 50, 209-221.

  6. Tebble, N., 1966. British Bivalve Seashells. A Handbook for Identification. Edinburgh: British Museum (Natural History), Her Majesty's Stationary Office.

Datasets

  1. Centre for Environmental Data and Recording, 2018. Ulster Museum Marine Surveys of Northern Ireland Coastal Waters. Occurrence dataset https://www.nmni.com/CEDaR/CEDaR-Centre-for-Environmental-Data-and-Recording.aspx accessed via NBNAtlas.org on 2018-09-25.

  2. Cofnod – North Wales Environmental Information Service, 2018. Miscellaneous records held on the Cofnod database. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/hcgqsi accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-25.

  3. Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland, 2018. Mollusc (marine) data for Great Britain and Ireland - restricted access. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/4bsawx accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-25.

  4. Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland, 2023. Mollusc (marine) records for Great Britain and Ireland. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/aurwcz accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-09-27.

  5. Fenwick, 2018. Aphotomarine. Occurrence dataset http://www.aphotomarine.com/index.html Accessed via NBNAtlas.org on 2018-10-01

  6. Kent Wildlife Trust, 2018. Kent Wildlife Trust Shoresearch Intertidal Survey 2004 onwards. Occurrence dataset: https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/ accessed via NBNAtlas.org on 2018-10-01.

  7. Manx Biological Recording Partnership, 2022. Isle of Man historical wildlife records 1990 to 1994. Occurrence dataset:https://doi.org/10.15468/aru16v accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-09-27.

  8. National Trust, 2017. National Trust Species Records. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/opc6g1 accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01.

  9. NBN (National Biodiversity Network) Atlas. Available from: https://www.nbnatlas.org.

  10. OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System),  2024. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2024-11-24

  11. Outer Hebrides Biological Recording, 2018. Invertebrates (except insects), Outer Hebrides. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/hpavud accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01.

Citation

This review can be cited as:

Carter, M.C. 2008. Glycymeris glycymeris Dog cockle. In Tyler-Walters H. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Reviews, [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 24-11-2024]. Available from: https://marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/1941

Last Updated: 17/04/2008