Biodiversity & Conservation

Ocnus planci aggregations on sheltered sublittoral muddy sediment

SS.IMU.MarMu.Ocn

IMU.Ocn

Image Dominic Counsell - Aggregation of Ocnus planci on broken shell and cobbles. Image width ca 40 cm.
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Distribution map

SS.IMU.MarMu.Ocn recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

  • EC_Habitats

Map icon UK and Ireland classification

Major habitat SS Sublittoral sediments
Habitat complex SS.IMU
Biotope complex SS.IMU.MarMu Shallow marine mud communities
Biotope SS.IMU.MarMu.Ocn Ocnus planci aggregations on sheltered sublittoral muddy sediment

Additional information icon Additional information

European Union Nature Information System (EUNIS) habitat classification: A4.314/B-IMU.MarMu.Ocn - Ocnus planci aggregations on sheltered sublittoral muddy sediment (Davies & Moss, 1998).

This biotope is similar to £IMU.PhiVir£ (Philine aperta and Virgularia mirabilis in soft stable infralittoral mud) and in Carlingford Lough occurs where hard substrata (shell debris, cobbles and pebbles) provide attachment for epifauna such as ascidians, sponges and tubeworms and allows aggregations of Ocnus to develop.

This review can be cited as follows:

Tyler-Walters, H. 2002. Ocnus planci aggregations on sheltered sublittoral muddy sediment. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 23/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatclassification.php?habitatid=325&code=1997>