Description: This sponge is irregular in shape, starting as a moderately thick crust and developing into irregular cushions. It is typically a distinctive shade of orange. The consistency is soft but not easily torn.

Habitat: Found mostly in sheltered, silty sites with slight to moderate currents.

Similar Species: Mycale rotalis is another species of Mycale which can be similar in growth form but is a distinctive scarlet red in colour.

Key Identification Features:

• Irregular patches becoming thicker in older individuals.
• Osculae at the top of lobes
• Distinctive shade of watery orange in colour

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

iNaturalist: Mycale subclavata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Mycale (Carmia) subclavata

WoRMS: Mycale subclavata at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Mycale (Carmia) subclavata (Bowerbank, 1866). AphiaID: 168605.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Porifera; Demospongiae; Heteroscleromorpha; Poecilosclerida; Mycalidae; Mycale