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.

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