Description: This sponge forms a thin crust with well-defined loosely adhering, rounded edges to the patch. It is cream in colour with a characteristic mottled appearance caused by thin transparent patches and a wrinkled surface. Oscules are scattered across the surface and have transparent raised rims.

Habitat: Vertical or overhanging rockfaces in the shallow sublittoral, occasionally beneath boulders on shore in tidal rapids.

Distribution: Western coasts of the British Isles, often in sea loughs in moderate tidal streams.

Key Identification Features:

• Wrinkled surface with mottled appearance
• Loosely attached rounded edges to the body

Distribution Map from NBN: Plakina monolopha at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Plakina monolopha at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Plakina monolopha at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Plakina monolopha Schulze, 1880. AphiaID: 133932.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Porifera; Homoscleromorpha; Homosclerophorida; Plakinidae; Plakina