Skip to Content

Marine Habitat Classification


Description of biotope or habitat type

To understand more about what this page is describing, see How to use the classification. See also How to cite.

   Psolus squamatus, Anomiidae, serpulid polychaetes and Munida on Atlantic mid bathyal rock and other hard substrata


Physical habitat description

Salinity Full (30-35 ppt)
Wave exposure
Tidal streams
Substratum Rock and other hard substrata - cobble, boulder and bedrock
Zone Atlantic mid bathyal
Depth Band Biotope depth range 600 - 1300 m (based on zone); assemblage recorded from 361 - 824 m; median 590 m
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.

Distribution of habitat M.AtMB.Ro.SpaEnc.PsoAno <i>Psolus squamatus</i>, Anomiidae, serpulid polychaetes and Munida on Atlantic mid bathyal rock and other hard substrata

  • 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

This biotope consists of cobble, boulder and bedrock areas with the holothurian Psolus being the most conspicuous faunal compenent. A range of encrusting species are also present but there is no conspicuous presence of lamellate sponges as there is within "Psolus squamatus and encrusting sponge assemblage". This assemblage also occurs in the upper bathyal. Characterising species listed refer to all Psolus squamatus, Anomiidae, serpulid polychaetes and Munida assemblages not just those found associated with the zone and substrate specified in this biotope.

Situation

No situation data available.

Temporal variation

No temporal variation data available.

Characterising species

Taxon % of core records where taxon was recorded
Anomiidae
Psolus squamatus
Porifera encrusting (pale - yellow, white, grey, cream, pink
Serpulidae
Aberrantidae

Similar biotopes or habitat types

M.AtUB.Ro.SpaEnc.PsoSpo
Occurs in the upper bathyal. Distinguished by the presence of lamenate sponges.

M.AtMB.Ro.SpaEnc.PsoSpo
Distinguished by the presence of lamenate sponges.

M.AtUB.Ro.SpaEnc.PsoAno
The same epifaunal assemblage in the upper bathyal.

Photos

M.AtMB.Ro.SpaEnc.PsoAno Psolus squamatus, Anomiidae, serpulid polychaetes and Munida on Atlantic mid bathyal rock and other hard substrata, Hatton Bank. ANON© MSS/JNCC/University of Plymouth
M.AtMB.Ro.SpaEnc.PsoAno Psolus squamatus, Anomiidae, serpulid polychaetes and Munida on Atlantic mid bathyal rock and other hard substrata, Hatton Bank. ANON© MSS/JNCC/University of Plymouth

Back to top