Tethya aurantium is a ball-shaped sponge from 2 to 10 cm in diameter. It is yellow
or pale orange. It is attached to rocks by means of its base and some extensions resembling roots. It has
a single large oscule, generally at the top. Its surface is granulous with sometimes small round and spiny
outgrowths. Its consistency is hard.
It is recorded in the Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel, the North Sea and the Mediterrannean Sea.
Phylum Porifera, class Demospongiae, order Hadromerida, family Tethyidae, Tethya aurantium (Pallas, 1766).
Oscule: Opening generally quite visible, through which sponges expel water they have filtered to extract food particles.
Photograph: © Wilfried Bay-Nouailhat. Published with author's kind permission.
Tethya aurantium, Iles Glénan, South-Brittany, West of France. Depth 16 meters.
Text: Wilfried Bay-Nouailhat © 2004-2008.
Translation: Anne Bay-Nouailhat © 2007-2008.
