Sycandra utriculus (Schmidt, 1869)

Sycandra utriculus

Description: This is a bag-like sponge with fairly thin walls, looking like a large Grantia compressa. It is yellow-white in colour and each hollow body has a terminal osculum. Occurs in clusters.

Habitat: Diving records are mostly from specimens found on wrecks in shallow water.

Distribution: Reported recently only from Orkney. Older records from Shetland and the Faeroes.

Similar Species: Grantia compressa is similar in overall appearance but smaller and typical of the shore and very shallow water.

Key Identification Features:

• Large bag-like hollow body
• Single osculum at extremity of the bag

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