Brackwasser-Herzmuschel vs essbare Herzmuschel

Cerastoderma glaucum compared with Cerastoderma edule

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Brackwasser-Herzmuschel	essbare Herzmuschel
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum same	Mollusca (Weichtiere)	Mollusca (Weichtiere)
Class same	Bivalvia (Muscheln)	Bivalvia (Muscheln)
Order same	Cardiida (Cardiida)	Cardiida (Cardiida)
Family same	Cardiidae	Cardiidae
Genus same	Cerastoderma	Cerastoderma
Species	Cerastoderma glaucum	Cerastoderma edule

Evolutionary Relationship

Brackwasser-Herzmuschel and essbare Herzmuschel share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Cerastoderma.

Ansehen Genus: Cerastoderma

Conservation Status

Brackwasser-Herzmuschel

LC — Least Concern

essbare Herzmuschel

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Brackwasser-Herzmuschel	essbare Herzmuschel
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Brackwasser-Herzmuschel

Habitat

Inhabits temperate broadleaf and mixed forests within the Palearctic biogeographic realm.

Range

Distributed across Azerbaijan, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

essbare Herzmuschel

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

Brackwasser-Herzmuschel

The Brackish cockle (Cerastoderma glaucum) is a species in the genus Cerastoderma. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Inhabits temperate broadleaf and mixed forests within the Palearctic biogeographic realm.

essbare Herzmuschel

<em>Cerastoderma edule</em>, the common European cockle, is an intertidal bivalve mollusc in the family Cardiidae, classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. The species is native to European coastal waters and has been documented in Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, where it typically inhabits sandy and muddy intertidal and shallow subtidal sediments in estuaries, bays, and open coastlines. <em>Cerastoderma edule</em> is a filter feeder, drawing in seawater through its siphons to extract phytoplankton, bacteria, and organic particles. It is recognized by its distinctive ribbed, cream-colored shell with radiating ridges and concentric growth lines. Cockles are a keystone species in many European coastal ecosystems, providing an important food source for shorebirds such as oystercatchers and knots, predatory fish, crabs, and starfish. The species also supports one of the most commercially significant shellfish fisheries in Europe, with large-scale harvesting operations in the UK, the Netherlands, and Ireland. Dense cockle beds stabilize intertidal sediments and contribute to benthic productivity. Population dynamics are closely linked to sea surface temperature, salinity, and sediment availability, making this species a useful indicator of estuarine ecosystem health. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.