BIOTIC Species Information for Gammarus insensibilis
Researched byNicola White Data supplied byMarLIN
Refereed byDr Martin Sheader
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & IrelandIn England, distribution is restricted to the central southern coast with two isolated east coast sites. Not recorded west of Fleet in Dorset and is absent from the lagoons of Cornwall.
Global distributionSouth from the English Channel along the Atlantic coasts of Europe to the Mediterranean and in the Black Sea.
Biogeographic rangeNot researched Depth rangeRestricted to depth of lagoons; 2-3 m max.
MigratoryNon-migratory / Resident   
Distribution Additional Information
  • Distribution is restricted to southern parts of England and probably represents the northern limit of the species' range. Found in Dorset, Hampshire, Sussex, Isle of Wight, Essex and Kent in the south and isolated sites in Lincolnshire and Suffolk on the east coast.
  • The species was present in Widewater lagoon, Sussex, but has not been recorded there since 1979.
  • Other habitat characteristics are: a regular tidal input of seawater; a small tidal range; no or low freshwater input other than rainfall; water retained at all states of the tide and at all seasons; salinity within the range 10-58 psu, usually 15-35 psu, with seasonal variation.

Substratum preferencesMud
Muddy sand
Sandy mud
Physiographic preferencesIsolated saline water (Lagoon)
Biological zoneLower Littoral Fringe
Wave exposureVery Sheltered
Extremely Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flowInsufficient information
SalinitySee additional Information
Habitat Preferences Additional Information
Distribution References Lincoln, 1979, Sheader & Sheader, 1985, Sheader & Sheader, 1987, Anonymous, 1999(s),
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