MBDP-NI: Duncan's Bo, Rathlin Island

Place name : Duncan's Bo, Rathlin Island. County : Antrim

Date : 2025-07-29 GPS : 55.31298,-6.25360. Depth : -15.0 to -30.0 m. [ View map ]

Site Description : Tide-swept circalittoral vertical wall with fragile sponge and anthozoan communities, and infralittoral bedrock, exposed to the Atlantic and strong tidal streams with Laminaria hyperborea, Delesseria sanguinea and foliose red algae.

Branching bryozoan, Porella compressa, [00:00:45]; White cluster anemone, Parazoanthus anguicomis, [00:00:50]; Volcano sponge, Haliclona viscosa, [00:01:09]; Elephant hide sponge, Pachymatisma johnstonia, [00:01:38]; Encrusting sponge, Desmacella annexa, 00:02:12]; Encrusting sponge, Microciona spinarcus, [00:02:30]; Branching bryozoan, Porella compressa, [00:02:43]; Sea beech, Delesseria sanguinea, [00:03:06]

Species list (31 species recorded):

Biotope 1 : Sponges and anemones on vertical circalittoral bedrock.

PORIFERA
Stelletta grubii R
Pachymatisma johnstonia C
Axinella infundibuliformis C
Stelligera stuposa O
Polymastia boletiformis O
Iophon hyndmani O
Hemimycale columella F
Hymedesmia paupertas F
Microciona spinarcus R
Desmacella cf. annexa F
Haliclona viscosa O
CNIDARIA
Tubularia indivisa A
Alcyonium digitatum C
Epizoanthus couchii O
Parazoanthus anguicomus F
Actinothoe sphyrodeta F
Corynactis viridis C
Caryophyllia smithii A
CRUSTACEA
Adna anglica F
BRYOZOA
Porella compressa R
Parasmittina trispinosa F
Omalosecosa ramulosa R
ECHINODERMATA
Henricia oculata O
TUNICATA
Aplidium nordmanni R
Didemnidae sp. O
PISCES
Centrolabrus exoletus F
Ctenolabrus rupestris O
RHODOPHYTA
Delesseria sanguinea R

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

CNIDARIA
Obelia geniculata C
BRYOZOA
Electra pilosa C
RHODOPHYTA
Delesseria sanguinea C
CHROMOPHYTA
Laminaria hyperborea C

Marine Biodiversity Data Portal - NI