Description: This sponge looks like a small Clathrina coriacea on a conspicuous stalk. The rounded body consists of a network of anastomosing tubes with a terminal osculum. Normally white or off-white in colour and tiny, usually less than 1cm in size without the stalk.

Habitat: Usually in water below 25m depth, usually in quite silty conditions.

Distribution: Widespread around the British Isles.

Key Identification Features:

• Small rounded head on thin white stalk
• Head consists of anastomosing tubes

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

iNaturalist: Clathrina lacunosa at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Clathrina lacunosa at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Clathrina lacunosa (Johnston, 1842). AphiaID: 150239.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Porifera; Calcarea; Calcinea; Clathrinida; Clathrinidae; Clathrina