APHOTOMARINE

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography
and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters
and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.

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Purse sponge, not Sycon
Sub-class calcaronea
- lateral view 1

Purse sponge, not Sycon
Sub-class calcaronea
- distal close-up 1

Purse sponge, not Sycon
Sub-class calcaronea
- proximal close-up 1

Purse sponge, not Sycon
Sub-class calcaronea
- with 1.0mm division rule 1

Purse sponge, not Sycon
Sub-class calcaronea
- conule-like structure on exterior under microscope 1

Purse sponge, not Sycon
Sub-class calcaronea
- transverse section showing conule-like structures under microscope 1

Specimen above found on the non-native bryozoan Bugula neritina on a pontoon at Newlyn Marina, Newlyn, Cornwall, 04.09.20.

The structures seen in the microscope images above are not true conules. Conules are typical of the genus Sycon. The structures above are conule-like and structures like this are more typical in the genus Grantessa for example. Michelle Klautau.

This may be the young form of the species listed here as "Pendant calcareous sponge (unidentified, not Sycon), Newlyn Marina, Cornwall, over 300mm+ in length", but it could also be something entirely different, only time will tell.

The main objective of this website is in furthering environmental awareness and education through the medium of photography. To increase awareness and access to the wildlife of the region and help

people find and identify it. Sometimes the difference between species is obvious but many species can only be determined by observing microscopic characteristics that are specific to any one species.

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