Aslia lefevrei - Marine Life Encyclopedia

Aslia lefevrei (Barrois, 1882)

Description: A brown leathery body and dark brown tentacles emerging from a crevice are characteristic of this species. There are five distinct rows of tube-feet and the introvert is dark brown. The main spicules are knobbly with four holes and there is a layer of smaller basket-like spicules just below the surface of the skin. 15cm in length, tentacles 10cm.

Habitat: Lives in rock crevices in areas of moderate water movement and clean water conditions. Low water-mark to 30m depth.

Distribution: Found on all western coasts of the British Isles.

Similar Species: Most likely to be confused with Pawsonia saxicola with which it is often found.

Key Identification Features:

Brown leathery body, tube-feet in 5 rows.
Lives in crevices in rocks.
10 mottled black tentacles.
Spicules knobbly with 4 holes.

Distribution Map from BioMar data for Ireland - Google Earth map: download this placemark (not got Google Earth installed?)

Distribution Map from NBN: JNCC MNCR Seasearch data - Grid map : Interactive map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C., 2010. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland
http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=ZB4790

[Home]