Description: This sponge may be off-white, grey or brown in colour and consists of a single tubular structure with a hairy appearance. The tube is attached to the substratum at one end and open at the other. A crown of spicules surround the open end. There may be more than one species involved here.

Habitat: Mainly found on the shore, beneath overhangs or attached to seaweeds near low water. It is also common in the shallow sublittoral under a wide regime of physical conditions. Small individuals are also present in deeper water.

Distribution: Common on all coasts of the British Isles.

Similar Species: May be confused with Grantia compressa however this species is flattened not tubular, has a smooth surface and lacks the crown of spicules.

Key Identification Features:

• Tubular sponge.
• Hairy surface.
• Crown of spicules.

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

iNaturalist: Sycon ciliatum at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Sycon ciliatum at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Sycon ciliatum (Fabricius, 1780). AphiaID: 132251.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Porifera; Calcarea; Calcaronea; Leucosolenida; Syconidae; Sycon