Sabellaria reefs on circalittoral rock
Description (English)
This habitat type 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 A4.22 |
|---|---|
| Bern Convention | Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (A4) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 | CR.MCR.CSab | Circalittoral <I>Sabellaria</I> reefs (on rock) | source |
| CORINE Land Cover | 5.2.3. | Sea and ocean | n/a |
| Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Habitats (UK) | 36 | Sabellaria spinulosa reefs | wider |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
