BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Cirratulus cirratus
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Lizzie Tyler	Data supplied by	University of Sheffield
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Found in suitable habitats all round the coast of Britain and Ireland.
Global distribution	Most north west European coasts and also in the south Atlantic.
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information	In Northumberland it is the dominant crevice organism on rocky shores between low and high water neaps (Olive, 1970). Cirratulus cirratus has been described as an opportunistic deposit feeder that is characteristic of areas of organic enrichment (Penry & Jumars, 1990). Cirratulus cirratus is mostly intertidal but is sometimes found subtidally (up to 50 m depth off the Devon coast) (Garwood, 1982; Olive, 1970).

Substratum preferences	Under boulders Muddy gravel Mud	Physiographic preferences	Open coast Offshore seabed Strait / sound
Biological zone	Upper Eulittoral Mid Eulittoral Lower Eulittoral Sublittoral Fringe Lower Infralittoral Upper Circalittoral Lower Circalittoral	Wave exposure	Sheltered Very Sheltered Extremely Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Weak (<1 kn)	Salinity	Reduced (18-30 psu) Variable (18-40 psu) Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Preferences Additional Information	None entered
Distribution References	JNCC, 1999, NBN, 2002, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Fauchald, 1977, Hayward et al., 1996, Fish & Fish, 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b,