MF6-513 - Faciès des vases compactes à Isidella elongata du bathyal inférieur en Méditerranée

Mediterranean lower bathyal facies of compact muds with Isidella elongata

Classification des habitats EUNIS 2022

Descriptif de l'habitat

This facies is present at the base of the continental slope and bathyal plain and is characterised by compact muds in which the cnidarian Isidella elongata is present. Important development of the cnidarian Isidella elongata (a white gorgonian with hard joints) on compact muds with little or no slope. Presence of a film of fluid mud above the compact mud, stirred up by the big shrimps. The Isidella elongata facies present an epibiosis formed of the actinia Amphianthus dohrnii, of Scalpellum scalpellum, of a Chlamys and of Scyliorhinidae eggs. This is a favourite area for the Aristeus antennatus and Aristaeomorpha foliacea shrimps, which themselves are food for various cephalopods (Rossia macrosoma, Bathypolypus sponsalis, Sepietta oweniana, Pteroctopus tetracirrhus) and – especially – fishes.

Bibliographie

European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity 2022. EUNIS marine habitat classification 2022 including crosswalks. Table Excel. (Source)