Large dog cockle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Large dog cockle |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Order: | Arcida |
| Family: | Glycymerididae |
| Genus: | Tucetona |
| Species: |
T. laticostata
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| Binomial name | |
| Tucetona laticostata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1835)
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| Synonyms | |
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The Tucetona laticostata, also known as the large dog cockle, is a type of marine clam. It lives in salt water and belongs to a group of animals called bivalve molluscs. These creatures have two shells that are hinged together. The large dog cockle is part of the family called Glycymerididae.
Even though it's called a "dog cockle," it's not closely related to the common cockle. The name "dog cockle" means it looks a bit like a real cockle. However, it's not usually eaten by people. The Māori people have their own names for it, including kuakua and kuhakuha.
Discovering the Large Dog Cockle's Features
The shell of the large dog cockle is almost round. It is also very thick and heavy. The bottom edge of the shell has small teeth-like bumps. The outside of the shell has strong, flat lines that spread out like spokes on a wheel. These lines get fainter near the top of the shell.
Most large dog cockles are about 60 to 80 millimeters (2.4 to 3.1 inches) wide. Some rare ones can be bigger than 120 millimeters (4.7 inches). The outside of the shell is usually off-white, yellow, or a dull pink. A thin, brown skin-like layer, called the periostracum, often covers the shell. This layer usually wears off the top half. Inside, the shells are shiny white. They often have brown or purple marks.
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Where Large Dog Cockles Live
The large dog cockle is endemic to New Zealand. This means it is found only there. You can find it around Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands too. These clams are common in their native areas.
They live in coarse sand or fine gravel on the seafloor. You can find them just below the surface or down to about 100 meters (330 feet) deep. T. laticostata can handle muddy water. They often form large groups, living close together. Sometimes, they are found with another type of clam called Purpurocardia purpurata. However, some large dog cockles live alone.
