Cockle is the common name for bivalve mollusks of the family Cardiidae. Shells of various species of cockles are commonly found on many beaches throughout the world. The distinctive rounded shells of cockles are symmetrical, heart-shaped when viewed from the end, and in most but not all genera there are numerous pronounced ribs.
The mantle has three apertures (inhalant, exhalant, and pedal) for siphoning water and for the foot to protrude. Cockles typically burrow using the foot, and feed by siphoning water in and out, sifting plankton from it. They are also capable of 'jumping' by bending and straightening the foot. Unlike most bivalves, cockles are hermaphroditic and reproduce quickly.
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