Ciocalypta penicillus

Brush sponge

   Ciocalypta penicillus is a sponge with a round cushion-shaped base attached to rocks, of 10 to 20 cm in diameter. Many conical outgrowths between 5 to 10 cm in height and 5 to 7 mm in diameter at their base emerge from the whole surface of the basal cushion. The sponge base is generally covered with sand, only the erected brushes are visible. They are pale yellow and translucent so that the central axis can be seen through.
It lives on rocks hidden in sandy or maerl seabeds, in the North-Western Atlantic, the English Channel and the Mediterranean Sea.

Classification:

 Phylum Porifera, class Demospongiae, order Halichondrida, family Halicondriidae, Ciocalypta penicillus Bowerbank, 1862.

Page glossary:

Maerl: Calcareous algae forming small branches of 3 to 5 cm. Pink when alive, white when dead, these algae form large seabeds. Maerl is collected and used in pharmacology and manure.

Authors:

Photograph:  © Wilfried Bay-Nouailhat. Published with author's kind permission.
Ciocalypta penicillus, Iles Glénan, South-Brittany, West of France. Depth 13 meters.
Text:  Wilfried Bay-Nouailhat © 2004-2008.
Translation:  Anne Bay-Nouailhat © 2007-2008.