In this blog we are going to tell you about Difference Between Clam and Cockle, so read this blog carefully to get the complete information.

People who live near the seashore are well aware of different types of sea animals. They can prepare a variety of seafood. One such variety of animals found in the sea is a mollusk. However, it can be found in two varieties that are clam and cockle. In terms of habitat, clams are usually found closer to the sea whereas cockles are commonly found scattered on the seabed. This difference is not limited as it is further exemplified in other dissimilarities between these two varieties. So in this article, we will focus on what clam and cockle are and how they differ from each other.

What is Clam?

Clam is a variety of shellfish sold in the market in abundance. It is one of the most well-known and loved shellfish at seafood restaurants across the globe. It is a bivalve mollusk that occurs naturally in the freshwater reserves all around the world. The word ‘clam’ is used for a broader category of classification as it includes other varieties of bivalve mollusks as well. They are available in different shapes and sizes and are protected by an exoskeleton in the form of a shell. The shell of a clam comprises two equal sections which are joined together. And their soft body remains secure inside that exoskeleton and they do not have a mouth or a head. But these mollusks do have an internal renal system, circulatory system, a heart, and a mouth. They use siphons to breathe and are commonly found in muddy or sandy regions of the sea. People can consume it in its raw form or can also be baked or boiled to taste better.

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What is a Cockle?

Cockles are generally considered distant relatives of the clam family. These are found in the briny waters across the globe. It is also a bivalve mollusk but is much smaller than a clam. They are usually found closer to the seabed. They also have a strong exoskeleton that protects their interior body. Their unique shell shape and appearance make them apart from the rest of the shellfish variants. Cockles have heart-shaped shell features that form quite different ribbed patterns. These patterns can never be replicated by other shellfish categories and thus this makes them different from other shellfish. They thrive on the sandy and muddy areas around the briny waters. They feed on plankton to grow. It is widely consumed by people and it tastes best when completely cooked. It is very important to wash them properly before cooking them as it eliminates the excessive sand from their shells. They can be consumed in different forms which include they can be fried, boiled, or steamed but they cannot be eaten raw as it can cause health problems.

Major Differences Between Clam and Cockle

The following are the major differences between clam and cockle as mentioned below:

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• The main difference between clam and cockle is that clams are bivalve mollusks that can be found in both freshwater and saltwater whereas cockles can be found in saltwater bodies and are briny mollusks that can thrive in saltwater habitats.

• The term clam is used to represent a broad category of shellfish whereas cockle is used in a much narrower sense.

• Clams are found in a variety of shapes in sizes that include triangular, oval, or elongated while cockles usually have an oval or heart-shaped slightly ribbed shell and their shell makes them easily differentiable from clams.

• Clams are usually found closer to the surface and do not live near the sea floor while cockles are found closer to the bottom of the sea. 

• Clams can be consumed raw but it is advisable to eat them in steamed form and serve them with a butter and lemon dressing as it tastes best this way while cockles should never be eaten raw as it may lead to serious health problems. 

Conclusion

So overall, all cockles are clams as clams represent a broader category of shell variants. However, all clams may not be cockles. They both are bivalve mollusks that are used in the preparation of many seafood delicacies. We hope that this article was helpful and now you can easily differentiate between these two shellfish variants.

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We Hope this blog is sufficient enough to provide the information about Difference Between Clam and Cockle. Thanks for reading this blog.