Sabellaria on Atlantic circalittoral rock
Description (English)
This habitat occurs on moderately wave-exposed, circalittoral bedrock, boulders and cobbles subject to moderately strong tidal streams. It is characterised by dense crusts of the polychaete Sabellaria spinulosa covering the substratum. Other fauna present in many cases reflects the biotopes found on nearby rock, so to a certain extent, is quite variable. Species typically present include the bryozoans Flustra foliacea, Alcyonidium diaphanum and Pentapora foliacea, the hydroid Nemertesia antennina, the sponges Tethya aurantium and Phorbas fictitius, the anemones Urticina felina and Sagartia elegans, and the ascidians Distomus variolosus, Polycarpa pomaria and Polycarpa scuba. The barnacle Balanus crenatus, the polychetes Pomatoceros triqueter and Salmacina dysteri, the starfish Crossaster papposus, and Alcyonium digitatum may also be recorded.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code MC128 |
|---|---|
| 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
Alcyonium digitatum
Invertebrates
Distomus variolosus
Invertebrates
Flustra foliacea
Invertebrates
Nemertesia antennina
Invertebrates
Sabellaria spinulosa
Invertebrates
Sagartia elegans
Invertebrates
Salmacina dysteri
Invertebrates
Tethya aurantium
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Alcyonium digitatum | Invertebrates | |
| Distomus variolosus | Invertebrates | |
| Flustra foliacea | Invertebrates | |
| Nemertesia antennina | Invertebrates | |
| Sabellaria spinulosa | Invertebrates | |
| Sagartia elegans | Invertebrates | |
| Salmacina dysteri | Invertebrates | |
| Tethya aurantium | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | A4.22 | Sabellaria reefs on circalittoral rock | narrower |
| European Red List of Habitats | NEAA4.22 | Sabellaria reefs on moderate energy Atlantic circalittoral rock | wider |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A4.22 | Sabellaria reefs on circalittoral rock | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A3.63 | Sabellaria reefs on circalittoral rock | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A3.63 | Sabellaria spinulosa communities on circalittoral rock | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A3.63 | Sabellaria spinulosa communities on circalittoral rock | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | A3.63 | Sabellaria spinulosa communities on circalittoral rock | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | A5.23 | Sabellaria spinulosa communities on circalittoral rock | same | |
| MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | MCR.CSab | Circalittoral Sabellaria reefs | same | |
| MNCR BioMar 96.7 (Britain & Ireland) | MCR.Sab | same |
