Biodiversity & Conservation

Yellow staghorn sponge - Axinella dissimilis - General information

Axinella dissimilis

Image Keith Hiscock - Axinella dissimilis at Stoke Point, Plymouth.
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Distribution map

Axinella dissimilis recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

Why do the maps differ?

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Axinella dissimilis is not listed under any importance categories.

General information

Key Icon Researched by: Angus Jackson Text page icon Refereed by: This information is not refereed.

Taxonomy icon Taxonomy

Phylum Porifera Sponges
Class Demospongiae
Map icon Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland Present at a few sites around Mull, the south west of England and the western extremities of Wales. In Ireland there are records from the south east, the south west, and along the Atlantic coast round to the north east.
Habitat information icon Habitat information Axinella dissimilis is typically found in exposed open coasts, on upward facing bedrock or other hard surfaces in the circalittoral zone.
Text page icon Description The yellow staghorn sponge resembles the horns of a stag. It has finger-like branches in a rough fan-shape, usually in one plane. It is usually about 15 cm high and yellow or orange in colour. The branches are almost oval, rather irregular in diameter along their length, and around 1.5 cm long. There is a short stem at the base which is thicker than the branches. The surface of the sponge has a velvety texture and is moderately firm but elastic.

This review can be cited as follows:

Angus Jackson 2008. Axinella dissimilis. Yellow staghorn sponge. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 21/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesfullreview.php?speciesID=2695>