Biodiversity & Conservation

Sabellaria spinulosa on stable circalittoral mixed sediment

SS.SBR.PoR.SspiMx

Image Ken Collins - Close up of Sabellaria spinulosa mound showing worm tubes composed of cemented sand grains and shell fragments. Image width ca XX cm.
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Distribution map

recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

  • EC_Habitats
  • UK_BAP
  • OSPAR

Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland

Records of CMX.SspiMx are restricted to the east coast (south of Whitby) and south coast (no further west than Weymouth) of England. The biotope has also been recorded from several locations on the Welsh coast.

Habitat preferences

Temperature range preferences -

Water clarity preferences -

Limiting Nutrients -

Other preferences -

Additional information

Moderately wave exposed areas with moderately strong to weak tidal streams. Depth is likely to be 10-30 m. Sabellaria spinulosa requires sand grains which it uses to construct its tubes. Therefore, it is only found in areas with very turbid water (Jones et al., 2000). Although Sabellaria spinulosa may be found individually in the intertidal, reefs are only found subtidally.

This review can be cited as follows:

Marshall, C.E. 2006. Sabellaria spinulosa on stable circalittoral mixed sediment. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 21/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatpreferences.php?habitatid=377&code=2004>