Tethya citrina - Marine Life Encyclopedia

Tethya citrina Sara & Melone, 1965

Tethya citrina

Description: This spherical sponge is typically pale to bright yellow in colour. The surface is tuberculate (warty) and often 'buds' are present, found on short stalks on top of these tubercles. There is one, large compound oscule opposite to the point of attachment. Overall the appearance is like a small orange.

Habitat: A common species in the infralittoral zone, usually on horizontal or gently sloping rocky surfaces in clean water, but can tolerate silt.

Distribution: A common species on western and southern coasts of the British Isles.

Similar Species: Two other species of Tethya, Tethya hibernica and Tethya norvegica are now known from Britain and Ireland. Both are known from very few records. This species may also possibly be confused with Suberites carnosus, however the latter species has a smooth velvety surface. Tetilla cranium and Tetilla zetlandica are the same shape and have a rough surface, but T. zetlandica is bright white and T. cranium has distinctive 'S' shaped microscleres.

Key Identification Features:

Spherical shape.
Tuberculate surface, often with stalked 'buds'.
Large compound oscule opposite point of attachment.

Distribution Map: NBN map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

WoRMS: Species record : World Register of Marine Species.

iNaturalist: Species account : iNaturalist World Species Observations database

Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2016). Tethya citrina Sara & Melone, 1965. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=C2130 Accessed on 2025-01-22

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