EUNIS habitat classification 2012 amended 2019 > A - Marine habitats > A5 - Sublittoral sediment > A5.2 - Sublittoral sand > A5.23 - Infralittoral fine sand > A5.231 - Infralittoral mobile clean sand with sparse fauna

Infralittoral mobile clean sand with sparse fauna

English name: Infralittoral mobile clean sand with sparse fauna

Description (English)

Medium to fine sandy sediment in shallow water, often formed into dunes, on exposed or tide-swept coasts often contains very little infauna due to the mobility of the substratum. Some opportunistic populations of infaunal amphipods may occur, particularly in less mobile examples in conjunction with low numbers of mysids such as Gastrosaccus spinifer, the polychaete Nephtys cirrosa and the isopod Eurydice pulchra. Sand eels Ammodytes sp. may occasionally be observed in association with this biotope (and others). This biotope is more mobile than A5.233 and may be closely related to A2.221 on the shore. Common epifaunal species such as Pagurus bernhardus, Liocarcinus depurator, Carcinus maenas and Asterias rubens may be encountered and are the most conspicuous species present.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code A5.231
Bern Convention Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (A5)

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Invertebrates Asterias rubens
Invertebrates Carcinus maenas
Invertebrates Eurydice pulchra
Invertebrates Gastrosaccus spinifer
Invertebrates Liocarcinus depurator
Invertebrates Nephtys cirrosa
Species scientific name English common name Species group
Asterias rubens Invertebrates
Carcinus maenas Invertebrates
Eurydice pulchra Invertebrates
Gastrosaccus spinifer Invertebrates
Liocarcinus depurator Invertebrates
Nephtys cirrosa Invertebrates

Other classifications

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 SS.SSa.IFiSa.IMoSa Infralittoral mobile clean sand with sparse fauna source
CORINE Land Cover 5.2.3. Sea and ocean n/a
For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 A5.231 Infralittoral mobile clean sand with sparse fauna same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 A4.121 Sparse fauna in marine infralittoral mobile clean sand same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 A4.121 Sparse fauna in marine infralittoral mobile clean sand same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 A4.131 Sparse fauna in marine infralittoral mobile clean sand same
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) IGS.FaS.Mob Sparse fauna in marine infralittoral mobile clean sand same
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