Sublittoral mud
Description (English)
Sublittoral mud and cohesive sandy mud extending from the extreme lower shore to offshore, circalittoral habitats. This biotope is predominantly found in sheltered harbours, sealochs, bays, marine inlets and estuaries and stable deeper/offshore areas where the reduced influence of wave action and/or tidal streams allow fine sediments to settle. Such habitats are often by dominated by polychaetes and echinoderms, in particular brittlestars such as Amphiura spp. Seapens such as Virgularia mirabilis and burrowing megafauna including Nephrops norvegicus are common in deeper muds. Estuarine muds tend to be characterised by infaunal polychaetes and oligochaetes.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code A5.3 |
---|---|
Bern Convention | Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (A5) |
Relation to | Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive) |
Legal status
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
---|---|---|
Nephrops norvegicus | Invertebrates | |
Virgularia mirabilis | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
CORINE Land Cover | 5.2.3. | Sea and ocean | n/a |
Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 | SS.SMu | Sublittoral cohesive mud and sandy mud communities | same |
Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Habitats (UK) | 39 | Mud habitats in deep water | wider |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A5.3 | Sublittoral mud | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A4.3 | Sublittoral mud | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A4.74 | Animal communities of deep circalittoral muddy bottoms | narrower |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A4.3 | Sublittoral muds | narrower |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A4.74 | Animal communities of deep circalittoral muddy bottoms | narrower |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A4.3 | Sublittoral muds | same |