Leuconia nivea - Marine Life Encyclopedia

Leuconia nivea (Grant, 1826)

Leuconia nivea

Description: On the low shore this sponge usually grows as a hard encrustation that is white to pale grey in colour. Sublittorally it often forms a hard cushion with lobes and ridges.

Habitat: Common beneath boulders on the low shore. Also found sublittorally in areas of strong water movement.

Distribution: A common species in the British Isles.

Similar Species: May be confused with Leuconia johnstoni however L. nivea has a smooth, clean surface whereas the former traps silt and has a dirty appearance.

Key Identification Features:

Hard to the touch.
Forms a cushion with lobes and ridges.

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). Leuconia nivea (Grant, 1826). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=C580 Accessed on 2025-01-16

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