Description of biotope or habitat type
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Circalittoral fine sand
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt), Variable (18-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Moderately exposed, Sheltered, Very sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Weak (>1 kn), Very weak (negligible) |
| Substratum | Clean fine sands |
| Zone | Circalittoral |
| Depth Band | 10-20 m, 20-30 m, 30-50 m |
| Other Features |
Biotope origin
| Derived using data from | Various |
| Faunal group | Epifauna/Infauna |
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
Clean fine sands with less than 5% silt/clay in deeper water, either on the open coast or in tide-swept channels of marine inlets in depths of over 15-20 m. The habitat may also extend offshore and is characterised by a wide range of echinoderms (in some areas including the pea urchin Echinocyamus pusillus), polychaetes and bivalves. This habitat is generally more stable than shallower, infralittoral sands and consequently supports a more diverse community.
Situation
No situation data available.
Temporal variation
No temporal data available.
Characterising species
| Taxon | Typical abundance - SACFOR scale | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Amphiura filiformis | Abundant | 41-60% |
| Asterias rubens | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Cerianthus lloydii | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Lanice conchilega | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Ophiura albida | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Pagurus bernhardus | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Abra alba | Common | 21-40% |
| Chaetozone setosa | Common | 21-40% |
| Nephtys | Common | 21-40% |
| Nucula nitidosa | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Ophiura ophiura | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Pecten maximus | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Spiophanes bombyx | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Virgularia mirabilis | Occasional | 21-40% |
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.SSa.CFiSa | Circalittoral fine sand |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SSa.CFiSa | Circalittoral fine sand |
| 1997 (97.06) | Part of SS.CGS | Circalittoral gravels and sands |
| 1997 (97.06) | SS.CMS | Circalittoral muddy sands |