PORIFERA : Suberitida : SuberitidaeSPONGES

Suberites carnosus (Johnston, 1842)


 image: subcar
Suberites carnosus

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:

  • Stalked, spherical sponge.
  • Velvety surface.
  • Normally a single oscule in centre of upper surface.
Leaflet EModNet, NBN Atlas
image: sc0049 image: sc0048 [ More images ]

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

iNaturalist: Suberites carnosus at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Suberites carnosus at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Suberites carnosus (Johnston, 1842). AphiaID: 134275.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Porifera; Demospongiae; Heteroscleromorpha; Suberitida; Suberitidae; Suberites

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 Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2024). Suberites carnosus. (Johnston, 1842). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://www2.habitas.org.uk/marbiop-ni/speciesaccounts.php?item=C2200. Accessed on 2024-12-04