Vulnerable marine benthic animals – observation data Soft bottom coral forest

Two species of horn corals (Radicipes gracilis and Isidella lofotensis) can form dense populations on sandy soft bottoms in Norwegian waters. Radicipes, or pigtail coral have not been found in Norway until dense populations of this horn coral were found in the area called the Bjørnøya breed on a Mareano expedition. Like the bamboo coral Isidella lofotensis, this species lives on sandy mud bottom. Isidella lofotensis is a type of bamboo coral that is rare in countries other than Norway. It is most common in fjords and is rarely observed in Mareano’s mapping area. Therefore, this species is not included in the primordial model of soft bottom coral forests.