Description of biotope or habitat type
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Paramphinome jeffreysii, Thyasira spp. and Amphiura filiformis in offshore circalittoral sandy mud
Habitat (physical) 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 Thyasira equalis and T. gouldi and the brittlestar Amphiura filiformis. Other taxa may include Laonice cirrata, the sea cucumber Labidoplax buski and the polychaetes Goniada maculata, Spiophanes kroyeri and Aricidea catherinae. Amphiura chiajei may be occasional in this biotope as may Philine scabra, Levinsenia gracilis and Pholoe inornata. This biotope along with SMU.ThyNten, SMU.AfilMysAnit, SMU.AfilNten and SSA.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).
Situation
No situation data available.
Temporal variation
No temporal data available.
Characterising Species
Characterising species data not applicable.
Similar biotopes
Not applicable or unknown.
Biotope history
Classification | Habitat code |
---|---|
96.7 | SCR.NeoDen |