A branching sponge (Stelligera montagui)

Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). To interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.Map Help

Summary

Description

A short, mustard to pale orange sponge, reaching up to 5 cm in height. Its branches extend in multiple planes, often webbed together or completely fused, giving it a lobed, rather than distinctly branched, appearance. Long projecting spicules give it a spikey appearance. The oscules are very small and on top of the branches. The sponge surface is often covered in silt on the spicules or between lobes. It produces some slime when removed from the water.

Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland

Commonly recorded on the coasts of western Britain, the English Channel, and Northern Ireland. Sparse records present within the North Sea with some in scattered occurrences in the Shetland Islands, Orkney Islands, the Moray Firth, and the north east coast of England. 

Global distribution

Recorded from western Britain, Northern Ireland and in the North Atlantic Ocean. Sparsely recorded in the North Sea off the coast of Norway and north east England and Scotland. 

Habitat

Found on bedrock and boulders, usually in sheltered regions with sufficient current.

Depth range

0-40 m (possibly up to 300 m)

Identifying features

  • Webbed short branches
  • Long spicules projections give a spikey appearance
  • Firm axial consistency

Additional information

The oscules are not visible when the sponge is preserved. Axinella damicornis has a similar shape to lobed specimens but has a brighter yellow, than orangey colouration and presents as less spikey in the field. Small Stelligera stuposa also look similar but typically have longer branches and are less spikey (Bowen et al., 2018).

Listed by

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Further information sources

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Bibliography

  1. Ackers, R.G.A., Moss, D. & Picton, B.E. 1992. Sponges of the British Isles (Sponges: V): a colour guide and working document. Ross-on-Wye: Marine Conservation Society.

  2. Bowen. S., Goodwin. C., Kipling. D. & Picton. B., 2018. Sea Squirts and Sponges of Britain and Ireland, Seasearch Guide. Plymouth: Wild Nature Press. 

  3. Picton, B.E. & Morrow C.C., 2005. Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=D10920, 2008-01-08

  4. Picton, B.E., Morrow, C.C. & van Soest, R.W.B., 2007. [In] Sponges of Britain and Ireland: http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/sponge_guide/sponges.asp?item=C2134

  5. Van Soest, R.W.M., Picton, B. & Morrow, C., 2024. Sponges of the North East Atlantic, 2.0. Leiden, Netherlands: Linnaeus NG - Naturalis Biodiversity Center. Accessed [2024-10-04]. Available from https://sponges-ne-atlantic.linnaeus.naturalis.nl/linnaeus_ng/app/views/introduction/topic.php?id=3392&epi=168  

Datasets

  1. Manx Biological Recording Partnership, 2022. Isle of Man historical wildlife records 1990 to 1994. Occurrence dataset:https://doi.org/10.15468/aru16v accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-09-27.

  2. NBN (National Biodiversity Network) Atlas. Available from: https://www.nbnatlas.org.

  3. OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System),  2024. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2024-12-22

  4. South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre, 2023. SEWBReC Marine and other Aquatic Invertebrates (South East Wales). Occurrence dataset:https://doi.org/10.15468/zxy1n6 accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-09-27.

Citation

This review can be cited as:

Maleed, M., 2024. Stelligera montagui A branching sponge. In Tyler-Walters H. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Reviews, [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 22-12-2024]. Available from: https://marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/2365

Last Updated: 03/10/2024