Description: This is species was initially described from deep water Shetland as a thin,light buff-yellow crust with very long, projecting spicules, overgrowing small pebbles and shells. The bright red coloured encrusting sponge from shallow water identified as Bubaris vermiculata (Picton et al., 2005), appears to be an undescribed species.

Habitat: Deepwater.

Distribution: Deepwater off west coast of Ireland to Shetland.

Known recently from Kenmare River, south-west Ireland, and scattered localities on the west and north-west coasts of Ireland.

Similar Species: None known from the North East Atlantic.

Key Identification Features:

• Thin buff-yellow crust overgrowing pebbles and shells
• Very long projecting spicules
• Vermiform spicules

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

iNaturalist: Bubaris vermiculata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Bubaris vermiculata

WoRMS: Bubaris vermiculata at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Bubaris vermiculata (Bowerbank, 1866). AphiaID: 132521.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Porifera; Demospongiae; Heteroscleromorpha; Bubarida; Bubaridae; Bubaris