The Common Egg Cockle
Laevicardium serratum (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family Cardiidae
The Common Egg Cockle has a smooth, egg shell-like shell which grows up to 3". The scientific name, Laevicardium serratum, alludes to the finely serrated internal surface of the shell edges [Mitchell]. It's fairly common on S. Hutchinson Island beaches but is often cracked or damaged as it does not have a thick shell. I have 50-60 versions in my collection some have coloration and slight patterns.
Common Egg Cockle (from my collection S. Hutchinson Island- December, 2020)
* * * *
Southwest Florida Shells with Emphasis on Sanibel & Captiva
By José H. Leal
Family Cardiidae
Laevicardium serratum
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Common Egg Cockle
Shell size to 55 mm; shell thin, light, inflated, ovate. Surface smooth, sometimes polished. Umbones rounded. Palial line simple. Ventral margin finely crenulated. Color cream or light-yellow, with yellow, orange, or brownish marks. Interior cream. Previously in this guide as Laevicardium oviputamen (Reeve, 1844), which is a junior synonym of L. serratum. Do not confuse with Laevicardium laevigatum, which is an Indo-West Pacific species.