Phakellia ventilabrum - Marine Life Encyclopedia

Phakellia ventilabrum (Linnaeus, 1767)

Phakellia ventilabrum

Description: A cup-like or lamellate sponge, attached by a fairly narrow base. The edge of the cup/fan is sharp, not neatly rounded as in Axinella infundibuliformis. The colour is usually pale grey to cream.

Habitat: Appears to be restricted to lower circalittoral rock in slightly sheltered locations close to deep water.

Distribution: Known recently from scattered localities on the west and north coasts of Ireland and also the west coast of Scotland.

Similar Species: Similar to Axinella infundibuliformis but often larger and more brittle, with a sharp edge to the cup (rounded in A. infundibuliformis). The colour is pale grey c.f. A. infundibuliformis which is pale yellow.

Key Identification Features:

Cup shaped sponge.
Pale grey colour.
Sharp edged rim to cup.

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). Phakellia ventilabrum (Linnaeus, 1767). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=C3720 Accessed on 2024-09-19

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