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.
Sponges are animals of the phylum Porifera; sessile aquatic animals without true tissues.
Class Calcarea (calcareous sponges)
Order Clathrinida
Family Clathrinidae
Clathrina contorta (Ascandra contorta) Clathrina coriacea (Ascandra coriacea) Clathrina lacunosa
Order Leucosolenida
Family Grantiidae
Grantia compressa (purse sponge) Leucandra fistulosa Leucandra gossei Leuconia johnstoni Leuconia nivea
Family Leucosoleniidae
Leucosolenia botryoides Leucosolenia complicata Leucosolenia variabilis
Family Sycettidae
Sycon ciliatum Sycon elegans
Class Demospongiae (horny sponges)
Order Agelasida
Family Hymerhabdiidae
Hymerhabdia typica
Order Astrophorida
Family Geodiidae
Pachymatisma johnstonia
Order Axinellida
Family Raspailiidae
Eurypon viride Eurypon clavatum Eurypon major Hymeraphia breeni Hymeraphia elongata Hymeraphia stellifera Hymeraphia verticillata Raspaciona aculeata Raspailia hispida Raspailia ramosa
Family Stelligeridae
Halicnemia patera Stelligera rigida Stelligera stuposa
Order Bubarida
Family Bubaridae
Bubaris vermiculata
Family Dictyonellidae
Dictyonella incisa Spongionella pulchella Tethyspira spinosa
Order Chondrillida
Family Halisarcidae
Halisarca dujardini
Order Chondrosida
Family Chondrillidae
Thymosia guernei
Order Dendroceratida (keratose/horny sponges)
Family Darwinellidae
Aplysilla rosea Aplysilla sulfurea
Order Dictyoceratida (keratose/horny sponges)
Family Dysideidae
Dysidea fragilis Dysidea pallescens
Order Hadromerida
Family Clionaidae
Cliona celata (red boring sponge) Cliona lobata
Family Hemiasterellidae
Paratimea constellata
Family Polymastiidae
Polymastia agglutinans Polymastia boletiformis (yellow tit-sponge) Polymastia mamillaris Polymastia penicillus Polymastia spinula Quasillina brevis Sphaerotylus grey (B) Sphaerotylus spa
Family Suberitidae
Terpios fugax Laxosuberites Protosuberites epiphytum Protosuberites incrustans Pseudosuberites sulphureus Suberites carnosus Suberites ficus Suberites pagurorum
Family Tethyidae
Tethya aurantium (golf ball sponge, orange puffball sponge) Tethya citrina Tethya hibernica Tethya norvegica
Order Halichondrida
Family Axinellidae
Axinella damicornis Axinella dissimilis Axinella flustra Axinella infundibuliformis Axinella parva Axinella pyramidata Axinella rugosa Phakellia ventilabrum (chalice sponge)
Family Halichondriidae
Halichondria bowerbanki (Bowerbank's halichondria) Halichondria panicea (breadcrumb sponge) Hymeniacidon kitchingi Hymeniacidon perlevis (crumb-of-bread sponge) Spongosorites calcicola
Order Haplosclerida
Family Chalinidae
Chalinula limbata Haliclona cinerea Haliclona fistulosa Haliclona oculata (mermaid's glove) Haliclona simulans Haliclona urceolus Haliclona viscosa
Order Poecilosclerida
Family Acarnidae
Iophon hyndmani Iophon nigricans
Family Coelosphaeridae Lissodendoryx jenjonesae
Family Crellidae
Crella plana Crella rosea
Family Desmacellidae
Biemna variantia Desmacella annexa
Family Esperiopsidae
Amphilectus fucorum Amphilectus lobatus Esperiopsis Ulosa stuposa
Family Hymedesmiidae
Hemimycale columella Hymedesmia cohesibacilla Hymedesmia coriacea Hymedesmia crami Hymedesmia cratera Hymedesmia hibernica Hymedesmia jecusculum Hymedesmia pansa Hymedesmia paupertas Hymedesmia peachi Hymedesmia primitiva Hymedesmia rathlinia Hymedesmia umbelliformis Phorbas fictitius Phorbas plumosus Phorbas punctatus Plocamiancora arndti Plocamionida ambigua Plocamionida tylotata Spanioplon armaturum Stylostichon
Family Microcionidae
Antho brattegardi Antho coriacea Antho granditoxa Antho inconstans Antho involvens Clathria armata Clathria atrasanguinea Clathria barleei Clathria elliptichela Clathria fallax Clathria laevis Clathria spinarcus Clathria strepsitoxa Ophlitaspongia papilla
Family Mycalidae
Mycale contarenii Mycale lingua Mycale macilenta Mycale minima Mycale rotalis Mycale subclavata
Family Myxillidae
Myxilla ancorata Myxilla fimbriata Myxilla incrustans Myxilla rosacea
Order Spirophorida
Family Tetillidae
Craniella cranium Craniella zetlandica
Order Tetractinellida
Family Ancorinidae
Dercitus bucklandi Stryphnus ponderosus Stelletta grubii
Order Verongiida
Family Ianthellidae
Hexadella racovitzai
Class Homoscleromorpha
Order Homosclerophorida Family Oscarellidae
Oscarella lobularis Oscarella rubra
Family Plakinidae
Plakortis simplex
References