Description: A cushion-shaped sponge, with distinctive yellow papillae. The base is convex in shape and usually covered in silt or detritus. The papillae project from this base and are a distinctive bright yellow colour with an osculum at their tip.

Habitat: Most commonly found on upward facing rock, vertical walls or boulders in the lower infralittoral and circalittoral zones, associated with bryozoans and hydroids Seems to prefer areas with strong current.

Distribution: Recently described so there are currently few records. Recorded from west coast of Ireland and the North Channel.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Polymastia boletiformis but in this species the base is exposed, while in S. renoufi the base is covered in silt. Could also be confused with Polymastia penicillus but this species has longer, paler papillae and never has the bright yellow colouration of S. renoufi.

Key Identification Features:

• Cushion shaped sponge with convex base usually covered in silt or detritus.
• Distinctive bright yellow papillae projecting from base.

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

iNaturalist: Sphaerotylus renoufi at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Sphaerotylus renoufi

WoRMS: Sphaerotylus renoufi at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Sphaerotylus renoufi Plotkin, Morrow, Gerasimova & Rapp, 2017. AphiaID: 877531.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Porifera; Demospongiae; Heteroscleromorpha; Polymastiida; Polymastiidae; Sphaerotylus