List of sponges of Ireland

There are 290 species of sponges recorded in Ireland, although the true figure is thought to be close to 500; 134 species were recorded off Rathlin Island alone.

[1][2][3][4] Sponges are animals of the phylum Porifera; sessile aquatic animals without true tissues.

[5] Vertebrates:

Numbers of sponge species recorded in each of 232 marine ecoregions of the world. Irish waters are shaded red, indicating the high diversity of sponge species.

Clathrina contorta growing on Spirastrella cunctatrix

Guancha lacunosa

Sycon ciliatum

Pachymatisma johnstonia

Raspailia ramosa

Dysidea fragilis

Red boring sponge

Polymastia boletiformis

Tethya aurantium

Axinella damicornis

Closeup view of the breadcrumb sponge

Hemimycale columella

Myxilla incrustans

Oscarella lobularis