Antho granditoxa Picton & Goodwin, 2007

Antho granditoxa

Description: Forms bright orange/red patches with no excurrent channels visible and very inconspicuous osculae. Surface has hispid appearance and is sometimes lightly silted. Patches very variable in size, from 3-20 cm maximum diameter.

Habitat: Found on the sides of stable boulders in moderate to strong tidal streams at depths of 30-40m.

Distribution: Currently only known from the south and east coasts of Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland.

Similar Species: There are a large number of red encrusting sponges in the NE Atlantic which can only be identified with certainty from an examination of their spicules.

Key Identification Features:

• Surface with no obvious excurrent channels or osculae
• Bright red coloration
• Slightly bumpy look to surface

iNaturalist: Species account : iNaturalist World Species Observations database