Anne Frijsinger & Mat Vestjens, Holland
Info
Divers in European waters can encounter this more or less bright carmine red, rarely pink sea sponge even in very shallow waters, where it stands out due to its very striking coloration.
The sea sponge forms thin layers up to thick cushions with smooth, irregular lobes.
Its consistency is quite soft, but the sponge tissue is quite tough, sometimes even elastic.
On closer inspection or with slight magnification of the surface, a densely packed row of dots can be seen.
There are a few large, conspicuous oscula, which are scattered and slightly protrude above the surface, and around the ends of the exhalant canals, membranes can be seen within each osculum.
Habitat:
In addition to the habitats already listed in the profile, Mycale (Aegogropila) rotalis also occurs in very exposed locations such as on shells (e.g., Chlamys), seaweed, or hydrozoans
in protected areas with moderate to strong currents that supply the sponge with nutrients.
Synonyms:
Desmacidon rotalis Bowerbank, 1874 · unaccepted (genus transfer)
Mycale rotalis (Bowerbank, 1874) · alternative representation (subgenus assignment)
Raphiodesma intermedium Bowerbank, 1882 · unaccepted (genus transfer and junior synonym)
Synonyms:
Desmacidon rotalis Bowerbank, 1874 · unaccepted (genus transfer)
Mycale rotalis (Bowerbank, 1874) · alternative representation (subgenus assignment)
Raphiodesma intermedium Bowerbank, 1882 · unaccepted (genus transfer and junior synonym)
The sea sponge forms thin layers up to thick cushions with smooth, irregular lobes.
Its consistency is quite soft, but the sponge tissue is quite tough, sometimes even elastic.
On closer inspection or with slight magnification of the surface, a densely packed row of dots can be seen.
There are a few large, conspicuous oscula, which are scattered and slightly protrude above the surface, and around the ends of the exhalant canals, membranes can be seen within each osculum.
Habitat:
In addition to the habitats already listed in the profile, Mycale (Aegogropila) rotalis also occurs in very exposed locations such as on shells (e.g., Chlamys), seaweed, or hydrozoans
in protected areas with moderate to strong currents that supply the sponge with nutrients.
Synonyms:
Desmacidon rotalis Bowerbank, 1874 · unaccepted (genus transfer)
Mycale rotalis (Bowerbank, 1874) · alternative representation (subgenus assignment)
Raphiodesma intermedium Bowerbank, 1882 · unaccepted (genus transfer and junior synonym)
Synonyms:
Desmacidon rotalis Bowerbank, 1874 · unaccepted (genus transfer)
Mycale rotalis (Bowerbank, 1874) · alternative representation (subgenus assignment)
Raphiodesma intermedium Bowerbank, 1882 · unaccepted (genus transfer and junior synonym)
