Sponges, cup corals and anthozoans on shaded or overhanging Atlantic circalittoral rock
Description (English)
This biotope occurs on shaded and overhanging rock, such as on cave walls and ceilings although there are very few records of caves in conditions not subject to wave surge (i.e. deeper circalittoral habitats) and almost all are different in species composition. There are also a few examples of similar communities on very deep (70-100 m+) upward-facing rock (in Loch Hourn) and more may be found through the use of ROVs. These often species-rich habitats are almost invariably adjacent to well-mixed turbulent water. Characteristic species include the sponges Stryphnus ponderosus, Dercitus bucklandi, Chelonaplysilla noevus, Pseudosuberites sp. and Spongosorites sp., the anemones Parazoanthus spp., the cup corals Leptopsammia pruvoti, Hoplangia durotrix, Caryophyllia inornatus and the soft coral Parerythropodium coralloides. Thymosia guernei is sometimes present. This biotope is likely to need further splitting with further data and analysis.
Situation: Subtidal rocky coasts.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code MC1261 |
|---|---|
| Relation to | Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive) |
Legal status
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
| Legal text | Annex | Name in legal text | Code in legal text |
Habitat type relationship |
More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007 | Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation | Reefs | 1170 | Narrower | http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm |
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
Invertebrates
Chelonaplysilla noevus
Invertebrates
Dercitus bucklandi
Invertebrates
Hoplangia durotrix
Invertebrates
Stryphnus ponderosus
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Chelonaplysilla noevus | Invertebrates | |
| Dercitus bucklandi | Invertebrates | |
| Hoplangia durotrix | Invertebrates | |
| Stryphnus ponderosus | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | A4.711 | Sponges, cup corals and anthozoans on shaded or overhanging circalittoral rock | overlap |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | A4.7 | Features of circalittoral rock | same |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A4.711 | Sponges, cup corals and anthozoans on shaded or overhanging circalittoral rock | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A4.7 | Features of circalittoral rock | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A3.B11 | Sponges, cup corals and anthozoans on shaded or overhanging circalittoral rock | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A3.B11 | Sponges, cup corals and Parerythropodium coralloides on shaded/overhanging circalittoral rock | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A3.811 | Sponges, cup corals and Parerythropodium coralloides on shaded/overhanging circalittoral rock | same | |
| MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | CR.Cv.SCup | Sponges, cup corals and Parerythropodium coralloides on shaded/overhanging circalittoral rock | same |
