EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MC3 - Circalittoral coarse sediment > MC32 - Atlantic circalittoral coarse sediment > MC321 - Faunal communities of Atlantic circalittoral coarse sediment > MC3214 - Neopentadactyla mixta in Atlantic circalittoral shell gravel or coarse sand

Neopentadactyla mixta in Atlantic circalittoral shell gravel or coarse sand

Description (English)

Sublittoral plains of clean, shell, maerl and / or stone gravels or sometimes coarse sands, with frequent Neopentadactyla mixta. Pecten maximus may occur occasionally along with Lanice conchilega. Other epifaunal species may include Ophiura albida, Pagurus spp. and Callionymus spp. These sediments may be thrown into dunes by wave action or tidal streams. Widespread species such as Cerianthus lloydii and Chaetopterus variopedatus are present in many examples of this biotope. Scarcely recorded species such as Molgula oculata, Ophiopsila annulosa and Amphiura securigera may also be found. O. annulosa only occurs in records from the south-west of the British Isles. It should be noted that Neopentadactyla may exhibit periodicity in its projection out of, and retraction into, the sediment (Picton 1993).This biotope may be an epibiotic overlay of unit MC3-212.
Situation: This biotope may occur adjacent to maerl beds and to some extent in the lower infralittoral where some seaweeds may occur in low abundances.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code MC3214
Relation to	Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

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
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Large shallow inlets and bays	1160	Overlap	https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc....ckColorLogged=FDC864 Resolution No. 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention lists endangered natural habitats requiring specific conservation measures [and the designation of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) forming the Emerald network]

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Invertebrates Lanice conchilega

Invertebrates Molgula oculata

Invertebrates Ophiopsila annulosa

Invertebrates Ophiura albida

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Lanice conchilega		Invertebrates
Molgula oculata		Invertebrates
Ophiopsila annulosa		Invertebrates
Ophiura albida		Invertebrates

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A5.144	Neopentadactyla mixta in circalittoral shell gravel or coarse sand	same

For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A5.134	Neopentadactyla mixta in circalittoral shell gravel or coarse sand	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4.1311	Neopentadactyla mixta in circalittoral shell gravel or coarse sand	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.1311	Neopentadactyla mixta and venerid bivalves in circalittoral shell gravel or coarse sand	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A4.1411	Neopentadactyla mixta and venerid bivalves in circalittoral shell gravel or coarse sand	same
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)	CGS.Ven.Neo	Neopentadactyla mixta and venerid bivalves in circalittoral shell gravel or coarse sand	same

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