DSC_4157 Purple cockle, or purimu (Purpurocardia purpurata) dorsal and ventral views of hinged valves amongst beach drift. This common cockle prefers moderate water movement, and lives buried at the surface of muddy sand or shell debris on moderately sheltered to semi-exposed coasts. Karikari Bay, Karikari Peninsula *
DSC_4172 Purple cockle, or purimu (Purpurocardia purpurata) end view of heart-shaped hinged valves in beach drift. This common cockle prefers moderate water movement, and lives buried at the surface of muddy sand or shell debris on moderately sheltered to semi-exposed coasts. Karikari Bay, Karikari Peninsula *
DSC_8913 A comparison between cockles. Common cockle, or tuangi (Austrovenus stutchburyi) top left, Purple cockle, or purimu (Purpurocardia purpurata) top right, Small dog cockle (Glycymeris modesta) lower left, and Ribbed venus (Leukoma crassicosta) lower right.