Dog Cockle
The dog cockle lives just below the surface of gravelly and sandy seabeds, out beyond the low tide mark, and out to depths of 100m. It has a thick, round, clam-like shell covered with brick-red concentric markings on a pale background. They are spectacularly long-lived, reaching the grand old age of 100! We know this by counting the growth lines in their shell - much like you can count the growth rings of a tree!
The dog cockle is an opportunistic feeder with no preferred food. It has evolved to be very efficient at what it does; filtering out the sand and mud of the seabed, trapping any food particles within its shell, and ejecting the unwanted sediment through a gill-like structure on its underside.
The dog cockle is an important part of estuarine ecosystems, making up 45% by volume of biomass in one study in the Wash Estuary, in eastern England. It is estimated to filter 27kg of water per day, removing suspended particles and free-floating algae. Their shells are important substrates for a variety of animals including the ghost shrimp Callianassa subterranea and grapsid crab Saduria Entomol.
The dog cockle has been used as a source of lime for over 1000 years and is still used by some farmers today to provide calcium to their pastures. It is also eaten in China, where it is known as the sea-ear. Its shell can be carved into ornaments or even jewelry, with interesting results! The dog cockle was once believed to cure illnesses such as epilepsy and was ground up into a powder for this purpose.
With its efficient filtering apparatus, the dog cockle can be used in wastewater treatment to provide clean water - but it is difficult to keep alive in aquariums! The dog cockle lives just below the surface of gravelly and sandy seabeds, out beyond the low tide mark, and out to depths of 100m. It has a thick, round, clam-like shell covered with brick-red concentric markings on a pale background. They are spectacularly long-lived, reaching the grand old age of 100! We know this by counting the growth lines in their shell - much like you can count the growth rings of a tree!
The dog cockle is an opportunistic feeder with no preferred food. It has evolved to be very efficient at what it does; filtering out the sand and mud of the seabed, trapping any food particles within its shell, and ejecting the unwanted sediment through a gill-like structure on its underside.
The dog cockle is an important part of estuarine ecosystems, making up 45% by volume of biomass in one study in the Wash Estuary, in eastern England. It is estimated to filter 27kg of water per day, removing suspended particles and free-floating algae. Their shells are important substrates for a variety of animals including the ghost shrimp Callianassa subterranea and grapsid crab Saduria Entomol.
Global dog cockle production
The global production of dog cockles is an important industry in many parts of the world. In 2013, the estimated total world production of dog cockles was around 1.3 million metric tons. The majority of dog cockle production takes place in Asia, with China being the largest producer. Other major producers include Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Dog cockles are an important food source in many parts of the world. They are often eaten as a snack or used as an ingredient in soups and other dishes. Dog cockles are also used as bait for fishing.
The global dog cockle industry is worth billions of dollars each year. The vast majority of dog cockles are used for human consumption, but a small percentage is used for bait, fish food, and other purposes.
The dog cockle is a small, edible shellfish. It is found in coastal waters around the world. Dog cockles are harvested for their meat, which is considered to be a delicacy in many cultures.