This morning I imagine how the now-empty beaches of south Florida are in fact NOT empty but teaming with life. Last month we visited Sanibel Island and walked the beaches at sunrise. I was stunned by the quantities of LIVE Cockles at the shoreline. This one I believe to be an Evan Pricklycockle (T. isocardia). It did take patience on both my part and the Cockle’s to capture this image with it’s shell open. Notice the black dots towards the outer portion of the inner shell….those are EYES. Copyright 2020 Pamela BreitbergThis Florida Pricklycockle (Trachycardium) was more timid, opening only partially while I used my macro lens’ capability to capture an image including the inside creature. Sanibel’s beaches are rich with shells; but as all Florida beaches it is most illegal to collect live specimens. Copyright 2020 Pamela BreitbergAlive and surviving during lowtides. Even Pricklycockles keep saltwater inside their shells to help them live while stranded on the beach during lowtide. This one squirted at me when I accidentally got too close. I backed off quickly so that it did not choose to squirt the rest of it’s water to warn me and potentially harm itself. Copyright 2020 Pamela BreitbergA collection of Pricklycockles temporarily stranded during lowtide on the beach. Copyright 2020 Pamela BreitbergA community of a Pricklycockles and other mollucks, most alive at the shoreline but still under water during lowtide. I can only imagine as the beaches are without humans right now that more sealife is thriving right now. Copyright 2020 Pamela BreitbergOne more Even Pricklycockle unafraid of my lens. Copyright 2020 Pamela Breitberg
