• Norwegian: -

Characteristics:

Phakellia robusta is a light yellow, fan-shaped sponge. The surface is smooth. It is very similar to the more common P. ventilabrum, you really need a microscope to determine the species with certainty.

Habitat:

This is a deep sea species, registered down to 810 meters. In Norwegian fjords deep sea species tends to come up diveable depths. It prefers current exposed locations where access to nutrition from water filtering is good.

Distribution:

It is registered in Norway, Shetland, Ireland and the Azores.

Taxonomy:

There has been discussion of whether this is a separate species, or the same as P. ventilabrum. The current (2001) conclusion is that they are separate species.