Mewstone Dredging Ground
Lat/long
50 18.26N 50 18.26N	04 05.48W 04 07.35W
50 17.19N 50 17.10N	04 05.20W 04 07.37W

Location description (1957)

Mewstone Dredging Ground (15-18 fm.). An expanse of soft red rock runs seawards in a southerly and south-easterly direction from the Mewstone. This is a most interesting collecting ground, the dredge often breaking away and bringing to the surface pieces of rock of considerable size. The rock at these depths is free from any seaweed growth, but is well covered with sponges, hydroids, polyzoa and the barnacle Verruca stroemia. The alcyonacean Sarcodyction catenata (red form) is not infrequently found both on the rock itself and on dead shell valves which often accompany it in the dredge. The following species are common and typical of the fauna associated with this red rock: Cliona celata, Polymastia mamillaris, P. boletiforme, and Raspailia spp.; Eunicella verrucosa with Amphianthus dohrni and Duvaucelia plebia living upon it; Alcyonium digitatum with Simnia patula; Caryophyllia smithi with its associated barnacle Pyrgoma anglicum; Nemertesia antennina and N. ramosa with Scalpellum scalpellum; sman colonies of Sertularella gayi and S. polyzonias; Kirchenpaueria pinnata and Plumularia catharina; Lafoea dumosa with occasional specimens of Nematomenia banyulensis attached; Cucumaria lactea on the rock itself and on the attached hydroids; Echinus esculentus and occasional specimens of Ophiothrix fragilis, Henricia sanguinolenta and of the large holothurian, Holothuria forskali; Ophiopsila aranea concealed in holes and crevices of the rock; Phallusia mammillata, Ascidiella scabra, and Ciona intestinalis (small specimens); the polyzoan Crisidia cornuta and Bugula flabellata in abundance, Alcyonidium gelatinosum, Bicellariella ciliata, small colonies of Cellariafistulosa and C. sinuosa, and occasional large masses of Lepralia foliacea, amongst which a number of small crustaceans, especially Porcellana longicornis and a few Galathea strigosa are to be found. The large Phyllodoce paretti is also found here. The red rock itself is bored by Pholadidea loscombiana. Besides the red conglomerate in the locality, there is also a much harder rock. Holothuria forskali and Phallusia mammillata are notably more abundant on this harder rock and Echinus esculentus is scarcer. It is generally found that where IIolothuria is abundant the accompanying fauna is relatively sparse.

Updated information

No updated information

Species List

>Hero formosa Ophiura albida Sepia officinalis Sepietta oweniana