Echiurid Bed (Biotic Group)

Component: Biotic

Unique Identifier: 528

Biotic Setting	Benthic/Attached Biota
Biotic Class	Faunal Bed
Biotic Subclass	Soft Sediment Fauna
Biotic Group	Echiurid Bed
Biotic Community	Echiurus Bed Listriolobus Bed Urechis Bed

Description

Definition

Soft-sediment areas dominated by unsegmented echiurids or "spoon worms" which are abundant on the U.S. west coast in both intertidal and subtidal habitats. This group also includes communities where U-shaped echiurid burrows constitute the dominant or characteristic faunal feature, even if all animals have retracted into their burrows and cannot be seen.