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List of sponges of Ireland

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Numbers of sponge species recorded in each of 232 marine ecoregions of the world. Irish waters are shaded red, indicating the high diversity of sponge species.

There are 290 species of sponges recorded in Ireland, although the true figure is thought to be close to 500; 134 species were recorded off Rathlin Island alone.[1][2][3][4]

Sponges are animals of the phylum Porifera; sessile aquatic animals without true tissues.[5]

Class Calcarea (calcareous sponges)

Clathrina contorta growing on Spirastrella cunctatrix
Guancha lacunosa

Family Grantiidae

Family Sycettidae

Sycon ciliatum

Class Demospongiae (horny sponges)

Order Agelasida

Family Geodiidae

Pachymatisma johnstonia
Raspailia ramosa

Order Bubarida

Family Bubaridae

Order Dendroceratida (keratose/horny sponges)

Order Dictyoceratida (keratose/horny sponges)

Family Dysideidae

Dysidea fragilis

Family Clionaidae

Red boring sponge
Polymastia boletiformis

Family Tethyidae

Tethya aurantium
Axinella damicornis
Closeup view of the breadcrumb sponge

Family Chalinidae

Family Acarnidae

Family Crellidae

Hemimycale columella

Family Mycalidae

Family Myxillidae

Myxilla incrustans

Family Tetillidae

Oscarella lobularis

Family Plakinidae

References

  1. ^ "Sponges of Britain and Ireland".
  2. ^ https://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/research/sss/Classification%20of%20freshwater%20sponges.pdf
  3. ^ https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/IWM38.pdf
  4. ^ http://maps.biodiversityireland.ie/SpeciesGroup/39/Species?FullDictionary=false&UseCommonNames=false
  5. ^ "Irish sea sponges could produce cure for cancer and HIV - Independent.ie".