MBDP-NI: Ruecallan Archway (North Wall), Rathlin Island

Place name : Ruecallan Archway (North Wall), Rathlin Island. County : Antrim

Date : 2024-10-14 GPS : 55.30753,-6.26778. Depth : -25.0 to -30.0 m. [ View map ]

Site Description : Vertical limestone wall and large boulders

Elephant hide sponge Pachymatisma johnstonia [00:01:05]; Yellow staghorn sponge Axinella dissimilis [00:01:16]; Bright yellow sponge Spongosorites calcicola [00:02:04]; Yellow hydroid Aglaophenia tubulifera [00:02:13]; Yellow and orange didemnid sea squirts Didemnidae [00:02:28]; Yellow encrusting sponge Desmacella cf. annexa [00:02:40]; Black tar sponge Dercitus bucklandi [00:02:54]; Orange sponge Clathria (Microciona) spinarcus [00:03:02]; Cup-shaped sponge Axinella infundibuliformis [00:03:04]; Rare sponge Axinella parva [00:03:10]; Yellow hedgehog sponge Polymastia boletiformis [00:03:12]; Plumose anemone Metridium senile [00:03:14]; Multi-coloured jewel anemone Corynactis viridis [00:03:23]; Soft corals Alcyonium digitatum [00:03:32]; Forest kelp Laminaria hyperborea [00:03:34]; Hydroid on kelp Obelia geniculata [00:03:46]; Red seaweed Phycodrys rubens [00:03:57].

Species list (70 species recorded):

PORIFERA
Clathrina coriacea
Dysidea fragilis
Pachymatisma johnstonia
Dercitus bucklandi
Axinella damicornis
Axinella dissimilis
Axinella infundibuliformis
Axinella parva
Eurypon major
Raspailia hispida
Raspailia ramosa
Stelligera stuposa
Polymastia boletiformis
Polymastia penicillus
Sphaerotylus renoufi
Tethya citrina
Iophon hyndmani
Hemimycale columella
Hymedesmia paupertas
Phorbas fictitius
Microciona spinarcus
Desmacella cf. annexa
Haliclona viscosa
CNIDARIA
Tubularia indivisa
Diphasia margareta
Sertularella gayi
Sertularella polyzonias
Aglaophenia tubulifera
Obelia geniculata
Alcyonium digitatum
Alcyonium hibernicum
Epizoanthus couchii
Parazoanthus anguicomus
Parazoanthus axinellae
Metridium senile
Cylista elegans
Actinothoe sphyrodeta
Corynactis viridis
Caryophyllia smithii
ANNELIDA
Salmacina dysteri
CRUSTACEA
Adna anglica
MOLLUSCA
Tricolia (Tricolia) pullus
Calliostoma zizyphinum
Patella pellucida
Limacia clavigera
Eledone cirrhosa
BRYOZOA
Crisia denticulata
Crisia eburnea
Membranipora membranacea
Caberea boryi
Parasmittina trispinosa
Omalosecosa ramulosa
ECHINODERMATA
Henricia oculata
Echinus esculentus
TUNICATA
Didemnum sp.
Ascidiella scabra
Ascidia mentula
Ascidia virginea
Dendrodoa grossularia
PISCES
Ctenolabrus rupestris
Labrus mixtus
Parablennius ruber
Thorogobius ephippiatus
RHODOPHYTA
Kallymenia reniformis
Plocamium lyngbyanum
Heterosiphonia plumosa
Acrosorium venulosum
Delesseria sanguinea
Phycodrys rubens
CHROMOPHYTA
Laminaria hyperborea

Biotope 1 : Sponges and anemones on vertical circalittoral bedrock.

PORIFERA
Clathrina coriacea R
Dysidea fragilis F
Pachymatisma johnstonia C
Dercitus bucklandi F
Axinella damicornis R
Axinella dissimilis O
Axinella infundibuliformis C
Axinella parva R
Eurypon major R
Raspailia hispida F
Raspailia ramosa O
Stelligera stuposa C
Polymastia boletiformis C
Polymastia penicillus O
Sphaerotylus renoufi F
Tethya citrina F
Iophon hyndmani O
Hemimycale columella O
Hymedesmia paupertas F
Phorbas fictitius R
Microciona spinarcus O
Desmacella cf. annexa C
Haliclona viscosa F
CNIDARIA
Tubularia indivisa P
Diphasia margareta R
Sertularella gayi O
Sertularella polyzonias O
Aglaophenia tubulifera O
Alcyonium digitatum C
Alcyonium hibernicum R
Epizoanthus couchii R
Parazoanthus anguicomus O
Parazoanthus axinellae R
Metridium senile O
Cylista elegans O
Cylista elegans O
Actinothoe sphyrodeta C
Corynactis viridis C
Caryophyllia smithii A
ANNELIDA
Salmacina dysteri O
CRUSTACEA
Adna anglica C
MOLLUSCA
Tricolia (Tricolia) pullus P
Calliostoma zizyphinum R
Patella pellucida P
Patella pellucida P
Limacia clavigera R
Eledone cirrhosa R
BRYOZOA
Crisia denticulata C
Crisia eburnea F
Membranipora membranacea P
Caberea boryi O
Parasmittina trispinosa O
Omalosecosa ramulosa R
ECHINODERMATA
Henricia oculata R
Echinus esculentus O
TUNICATA
Didemnum sp. O
Ascidiella scabra R
Ascidia mentula R
Ascidia virginea R
Dendrodoa grossularia F
PISCES
Ctenolabrus rupestris R
Labrus mixtus R
Parablennius ruber R
Thorogobius ephippiatus R
RHODOPHYTA
Kallymenia reniformis O
Plocamium lyngbyanum P
Heterosiphonia plumosa O
Acrosorium venulosum O
Delesseria sanguinea O

Biotope 2 : Laminaria hyperborea forest with dense foliose red seaweeds on exposed upper infralittoral rock.

CNIDARIA
Obelia geniculata C
BRYOZOA
Membranipora membranacea C
RHODOPHYTA
Delesseria sanguinea C
Phycodrys rubens C
CHROMOPHYTA
Laminaria hyperborea C

Marine Biodiversity Data Portal - NI