Northern seafan and sponge communities - Mixed turf of hydroids and large ascidians with Swiftia pallida and Caryophyllia smithii on weakly tide-swept circalittoral rock (Priority Marine Feature) (SNH WMS)

The Priority Marine Feature (PMF) list contains 81 habitats and species considered to be of conservation importance in Scotland's seas. It includes many features which are characteristic of the Scottish marine environment, ranging from flame shell beds in coastal waters, to cold-water coral reefs of the deeper seas, and mobile species such as minke whale and basking shark.

This layer shows the distribution of mixed turf of hydroids and large ascidians with swiftia pallida and caryophyllia smithii on weakly tideswept circalittoral rock in the Scottish marine environment. It is sparsely recorded with a restricted distribution in a few sea lochs and inlets on the west coast, especially around the Isle of Mull.  It represents a particularly diverse community of dense cup corals, sea firs, sea squirts, sea fans, sponges, soft corals, sea mats and feather stars, as well as sea cucumbers, squat lobsters and fish.