Mycale rotalis - Marine Life Encyclopedia

Mycale rotalis (Bowerbank, 1874)

Mycale rotalis

Description: This species is a conspicuous bright red encrusting to cushion shaped sponge, sometimes with smooth, irregular lobes. The surface is very distinctive, it consists of a closely packed series of dots that can be seen under close examination by the naked eye or using slight magnification, it is porous, with dark spaces under the surface membrane.

Habitat: This sponge is found on vertical rock faces in sheltered and also very exposed sublittoral sites. It is also occurs on boulders and rock in sheltered areas with moderate to strong tidal streams.

Distribution: This species is widely distributed and common in the British Isles.

Similar Species: The characteristic surface, once seen, is very distinctive. There is potential confusion with many other red encrusting species but these are usually much thinner.

Key Identification Features:

When compressed the sponge exudes a red pigment
Distinctive surface with closely packed series of dots
Bright red colour

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). Mycale rotalis (Bowerbank, 1874). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=C5530 Accessed on 2024-09-17

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