Biodiversity & Conservation

Ophiothrix fragilis and/or Ophiocomina nigra beds on slightly tide-swept circalittoral rock or mixed substrata

CR.MCR.EcCr.CarSp.Bri

MCR.Oph

Image Bernard Picton - Ophiothrix fragilis and/or Ophiocomina nigra beds on slightly tide-swept circalittoral rock or mixed substrata. Image width ca 1 m.
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Distribution map

CR.MCR.EcCr.CarSp.Bri recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

  • EC_Habitats

For a list of 2004 characterising species please see the JNCC website.

Map icon UK and Ireland classification

Major habitat CR Circalittoral rock (and other hard substrata)
Habitat complex CR.MCR Moderate energy circalittoral rock
Biotope complex CR.MCR.EcCr Echinoderms and crustose communities
Biotope CR.MCR.EcCr.CarSp Caryophyllia smithii, sponges and crustose communities on wave-exposed circalittoral rock

Additional information icon Additional information

European Union Nature Information System (EUNIS) classification:
A3.6/B-MCR.Bri Brittle star beds on circalittoral rock or mixed substrata.

Cabioch (1986) describes two dense brittlestar facies (communities) from the Manche area of Normandy:
  • Ophiothrix fragilis and encrusting bryozoans.
  • Encrusting sponges with dense populations of Ophiothrix fragilis.

This review can be cited as follows:

Hill, J.M. 2001. Ophiothrix fragilis and/or Ophiocomina nigra beds on slightly tide-swept circalittoral rock or mixed substrata. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 25/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatclassification.php?habitatid=278&code=2004>