A sponge (Desmacidon fruticosum)

Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). To interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.Map Help

Summary

Description

Desmacidon fruticosum are orange-pink, encrusting or massive sponges that form mounds with vertical extensions. The extensions sometimes exhibit longitudinal grooves, are finely rough with stiff hairs and are usually orientated towards the water surface whatever the angle of the substratum. The excurrent openings (oscula) are small and scattered about the body of the sponge. Desmacidon fruticosum produces large quantities of mucus when out of water.

Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland

Recorded from Northumberland, the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Man.

Global distribution

No information found.

Habitat

Grows on hard substratum in the sublittoral.

Depth range

-

Identifying features

  • Varies from encrusting to massive mounds, both forms exhibit vertical extensions.
  • Extensions are often grooved and finely rough.
  • Orange-pink in colour.
  • Scattered and small oscula.
  • Large quantities of mucus are produced when sponge is out of water.

Additional information

No text entered

Listed by

- none -

Further information sources

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Bibliography

  1. Hayward, P.J. & Ryland, J.S. (ed.) 1995b. Handbook of the marine fauna of North-West Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

  2. Howson, C.M. & Picton, B.E., 1997. The species directory of the marine fauna and flora of the British Isles and surrounding seas. Belfast: Ulster Museum. [Ulster Museum publication, no. 276.]

  3. Moss, D., & Ackers, G. (eds.), 1982. The UCS Sponge Guide. Produced by R. Earll. Ross-on-Wye: The Underwater Conservation Society.

Datasets

  1. NBN (National Biodiversity Network) Atlas. Available from: https://www.nbnatlas.org.

  2. OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System),  2025. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2025-05-02

Citation

This review can be cited as:

Ballerstedt, S. 2001. Desmacidon fruticosum A sponge. In Tyler-Walters H. and Hiscock K. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Reviews, [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 02-05-2025]. Available from: https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/1731

Last Updated: 07/12/2001