Van Hyning's Cockle
Dinocardium robustum vanhyningi
Markings and exact colorations may vary.
The Gulf form of the giant Atlantic cockle, a broad heart-shaped shell with bold brown bands.
- Typical size
- 3–5 in
- How often it turns up
- Fairly common on the Gulf
- Collecting
- Usually legal to collect
- Handling
- Safe to handle
Empty valves are fine to keep. Live shelling is prohibited in Lee County and state parks.
How to tell it apart
- Large, thick, strongly ribbed valves
- Brown and tan banding over cream
- Deep salmon or purple staining inside
Where to find these in Florida
Beaches rated very good or excellent for shells. Each page shows today’s score, the best window and access details.
- Anclote Key Preserve State Park · Tarpon Springs
- Bean Point · Anna Maria
- Beer Can Island (Greer Island) · Longboat Key
- Boca Grande Public Beach · Boca Grande
- Bowman's Beach · Sanibel
- Captiva Beach · Captiva
- Cayo Costa State Park · Cayo Costa
- Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park · Naples
- Don Pedro Island State Park · Cape Haze
- Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park · St. George Island
- Gasparilla Island State Park · Boca Grande
- Gulfside City Park (Algiers Beach) · Sanibel
Found one?
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