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Broad habitats
Subtidal coarse sediment
Undersea beds of coarse sand, gravel and shingle.
Subtidal coarse sediment © Paul Kay
Close to the shore, coarse sand, gravel and shingle seabeds are found on the open coast or in tide-swept marine inlets. These areas are disturbed by waves and tides, which prevent finer sands and mud from settling.
Most of the animals that live here are found buried in the seabed – the safest place to be. Even as the water becomes deeper, most of the life remains beneath the surface, and the animals found there include bristleworms, sand mason worms, small shrimp-like animals, burrowing anemones, carpet shell clams and venus cockles. Small varieties of calcareous algae may also live on fine gravels.
In much deeper water, coarse sand and gravel or shell fragments may cover large areas of the continental shelf. At present, little is known about its ecology, due to the technical difficulties of exploring deeper water.
Brief description of European distribution
Widespread around the British Isles and mainland Europe.
Further information sources
Sublittoral sediment
(JNCC)
Circalittoral coarse sediment (JNCC)
Infralittoral coarse sediment (JNCC)
Offshore circalittoral coarse sediment (JNCC)
Interesting fact
Burrowing sea cucumbers feed on particles on the surface of coarse gravel. They brush the gravel with their sticky tentacles then push their tentacles down into their stomachs – they ‘lick their fingers’!
