The Florida Prickly Cockle
The Florida Prickly Cockle, Trachycardium egmontianum (Shuttleworth, 1856), is one of the most commonly found bivalves along the shores of Southwest Florida. Its common name originates from the spiny projections distributed along radial (oriented from the “beak” to the edge) ribs. As other species of cockles do, Florida Prickly Cockles use their foot as a “pole vault” or lever to propel themselves away from threatening predators such as Apple and Lace Murexes. Almost pure whi