Phylum: Porifera

Class: Demospongiae

Order: Poecilosclerida

Family: Mycalidae

Scientific name: Mycale lingua

 

Norwegian: -

(Ingdalen - The Trondheim fjord / 8.19.2009 / 29 meters)

Distribution: M. lingua is a common sponge along the entire Norwegian coastline. It prefers hard, rocky substrate, usually on depths below 30 meters.

Characteristics: This light yellow or grey sponge sponge tends to form bulky lumps, occasionally erecting from the surface with a quite narrow base. The furrowed surface is dominated by a few, but relatively large openings. It can be difficult or even impossible to distinguish this species from other members of the Mycalidae family from images alone.

All pictures: