|PORIFERA : HADROMERIDA : Suberitidae||SPONGES|
Description: The colour of this sponge varies from shades of pale yellow, buff, pale orange and brown. Typically it forms a massive fig shape, attached by a short, thick stalk to the substratum. The surface is smooth with a velvety feel. There is usually one compound oscule at the top.
Habitat: This sponge is usually found attached to horizontal rock surfaces but is also found in muddy places attached to shells or stones buried in the mud.
Distribution: A common species on all coasts of the British Isles.
Similar Species: This species may be confused with Tethya aurantium is similar in shape but has a warty surface. Suberites ficus has a similar appearance but is bright orange colour and is massive-lobose in shape.
Key Identification Features:
Distribution Map from BioMar data for Ireland - Google Earth map: download this placemark (not got Google Earth installed?)
Distribution Map from NBN: Grid map (fast) : Interactive map (slow, requires login to view records) : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.
|Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C., 2010. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland |
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