Description of biotope or habitat type
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Paramphinome jeffreysii, Thyasira spp. and Amphiura filiformis in offshore circalittoral sandy mud
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | |
| Tidal streams | |
| Substratum | Sandy mud. |
| Zone | Circalittoral |
| Depth Band | |
| Other Features |
Download comparative physical and biological data. The comparative tables enable a rapid comparison of the species composition and principal physical characteristics between a given set of biotopes.
- Records used to define the biotope (core records)
- Other records assigned to this biotope, marked as 'certain'
- Other records assigned to this biotope, marked as 'uncertain'
- Predicted extent of the level 3 (for sublittoral rock & deep sea) or 4 (for sublittoral sediment) habitat
Point data based on records in the UK Marine Recorder Snapshot. Predicted habitat extent is from UKSeaMap.
Description
Deep, offshore cohesive sandy mud communities characterised by the polychaete Paramphinome jeffreysii, bivalves such as Parathyasira equalis and Thyasira gouldi (sometimes in elevated densities) and the brittlestar Amphiura filiformis. Other taxa may include Laonice cirrata, the holothurian Labidoplax buskii and the polychaetes Goniada maculata, Spiophanes kroyeri and Aricidea (Acmira) catherinae. Amphiura chiajei may be occasional in this biotope as may Hermania scabra, Levinsenia gracilis, and Pholoe inornata. In areas of the North Sea, such as the Swallow Sand MCZ, this biotope has been observed in sediments with a coarse material component. This biotope along with SS.SMu.CSaMu.ThyEten, SS.SMuCSaMu.AfilKurAnit, SS.SMu.CSaMu.AfilEten and SS.SSa.OSa.OfusAfil, may comprise the Amphiura dominated components of the 'off-shore muddy sand association' (Jones 1951; Mackie 1990) and the infralittoral etage described by Glemarec (1973) and may exist in a transitional environment with SS.SSa.OSa.OfusAfil.
Situation
No situation data available.
Temporal variation
No temporal data available.
Characterising species
Characterising species data not applicable.
Similar biotopes or habitat types
Not applicable or unknown.
Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code | Habitat name |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 (15.03) | SS.SMu.OMu.PjefThyAfil | Paramphinome jeffreysii, Thyasira spp. and Amphiura filiformis in offshore circalittoral sandy mud |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SMu.OMu.PjefThyAfil | Paramphinome jeffreysii, Thyasira spp. and Amphiura filiformis in offshore circalittoral sandy mud |