Description of biotope or habitat type
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Myrtea spinifera and polychaetes 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 habitats with cohesive sandy mud (>20% mud) may support communities characterised by infaunal polychaetes and the bivalve Myrtea spinifera. Polychaetes typically include Chaetozone setosa, Paramphinome jeffreysii, Levinsenia gracilis, Aricidea (Acmira) catherinae, and Prionospio malmgreni. The bivalves Thyasira spp. and Abra nitida may also be found as may seapens, such as Pennatula phosphorea. Some examples of the biotope SS.SMu.CSaMu.AfilEten contain Myrtea spinifera (Mackie 1990) in lower numbers but these habitats are generally sandier than those in SS.SMu.OMu.MyrPo.
Situation
This biotope has been recorded in the northern North Sea but may also exist in the Irish Sea.
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.MyrPo | Myrtea spinifera and polychaetes in offshore circalittoral sandy mud |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SMu.OMu.MyrPo | Myrtea spinifera and polychaetes in offshore circalittoral sandy mud |