Do Cockles Have Shells?

While cockles look a lot like clams—being between two shells and all—but the two are actually distant cousins. You can tell the difference when you turn its shell sideways: a true cockle (as opposed to a small littleneck clam) has a rounded, heart-shaped shell with a slightly ribbed texture.

What do cockles look like in their shells?

Cockles have two shells inside which they live. When held sideways, a cockle has a distinct heart shape. The cockle also has a ribbed texture over it. Inside the shell, the flesh is gray, but this can vary depending on the species.

Where are cockle shells found?

Cockles belong to the bivalve group of mollusks, who forms a top and bottom matching shell. Most Cockles burrow in sand or mud in shallow sea water and have been found world wide, sometimes in very large numbers colonizing a small area.