Evergreen Natural History Database

Common name(s): Heart cockle, Nuttal's cockle, Basket cockle

Size:
Up to 140mm

Range:
Bering Sea to S. California

Habitat:
Intertidal to 30 m, sandy gravel in sheltered bays where the salinity doesn't vary much.

Life History:
Unlike most bivalves, C. nuttallii is hermaphroditic. Maturity is reached in two years and they can live up to sixteen years. Spawning occurs from June to July.

Predators:
Pycnopodia spp., Pisaster spp. elicits an escape response.

*"Size" refers to shell length only and only gives the largest average size for the given species.

Last updated Tuesday, August 29, 2006, by Lisa Ferrier