Cliona celata is a sponge presenting two morphological types more or less frequent
whether this sponge lives in the Atlantic Ocean or whether it lives in the Mediterranean Sea. In the Atlantic,
it mainly forms large and fleshy bright yellow masses, often isolated on poorly inhabited rocks. It may
reach 60 cm in diameter which is the largest sponge from this area. Clearly visible inhaling pores cover
the whole surface of the sponge. The oscules, at the end of small outgrowths, are arranged in somewhat
linear systems, mainly on the upper part of the animal. In the Mediterranean Sea, Cliona celata is a
perforating sponge. It lives inside shells or calcareous rocks which it perforates. Only the yellow
ostioles and oscules are visible.
It is found from surface to 200 m deep, in the Atlantic ocean, the English Channel, the North Sea,
the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
Phylum Porifera, class Demospongiae, order Hadromerida, family Clionidae, Cliona celata Grant, 1826.
Oscule: Opening generally quite visible, through which sponges expel water they have filtered to extract food particles.
Ostioles: = inhaling pore. Holes through which water enters into the sponge.
Photograph: © Wilfried Bay-Nouailhat. Published with author's kind permission.
Cliona celata, Iles Glénan, South-Brittany, West of France. Depth 10 meters.
Text: Wilfried Bay-Nouailhat © 2004-2008.
Translation: Anne Bay-Nouailhat © 2007-2008.
