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Marine Habitat Classification


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1 result for 'SS.SSa.CFiSa.EpusOborApri'

   SS.SSa.CFiSa.EpusOborApri  Echinocyamus pusillus, Ophelia borealis and Abra prismatica in circalittoral fine sand

Circalittoral and offshore medium to fine sand (from 40 m to 140 m) characterised by the pea urchin Echinocyamus pusillus, the polychaete Ophelia borealis and the bivalve Abra prismatica. Other species may include the polychaetes Spiophanes bombyx, Pholoe sp., Exogone spp., Sphaerosyllis bulbosa, Goniada maculata, Chaetozone setosa, Owenia fusiformis, Glycera lapidum, Lumbrineris latreilli and Aricidea cerrutii. The bivalves Thracia phaseolina and Asbjornsenia pygmaea and to a lesser extent Spisula elliptica and Timoclea ovata may also be present. This biotope has been found in the central and northern North Sea. In offshore sandier or gravelly sand sediments in the Western Channel and Celitc sea, the biotope may support species indicative of sandy, muddy and mixed sediment. This variant shares the characteristic fauna of Echinocyamus pusillus amongst others, but also supports a wider variety of polychaete worms such as Spiophanes kroyeri, Magelona sp. and Tharyx killariensis, and may represent the transition to the biotope SS.SCS.CCS.Blan.
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