Antho granditoxa Picton & Goodwin, 2007

Description: Forms bright orange/red patches with no excurrent channels visible and very inconspicuous osculae. Surface has hispid appearance and is sometimes lightly silted. Patches very variable in size, from 3–20 cm maximum diameter.

Habitat: Found on the sides of stable boulders in moderate to strong tidal streams at depths of 30-40m.

Distribution: Currently only known from the south and east coasts of Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland.

Similar Species: There are a large number of red encrusting sponges in the NE Atlantic which can only be identified with certainty from an examination of their spicules.

Key Identification Features:

• Surface with no obvious excurrent channels or osculae
• Bright red coloration
• Slightly bumpy look to surface

Distribution Map from BioMar data for Ireland - Google Earth map:  download this placemark (not got Google Earth installed?)