Becky Hitchin Can anyone shed some light on this sponge from Orkney? In situ photos and some (not brilliant) spicule photos. From in situ morphology, we've been putting forth Amphilectus fucorum and Halichondria panicea as probable IDs, and the "sponginess" of the sample we took the other day did feel like Halichondria. But when looking at the spicules, the majority of unbroken ones are tylostyles, sometimes with more complex bumps than just a single rounded ending. No microscleres. Bernard Picton, Jade Berman, any ideas? I'm going to try and get some sections of our sample tomorrow.
Bernard Picton I call this Hymeniacidon kitchingi.
Becky Hitchin Oooo. Even with tylostyles?
Bernard Picton I think so. Hymeniacidon species seem to get these irregular tylostyles - swellings but not on all the styles. They are rather pronounced in this one, but I need to take a look at a prep at work.
Becky Hitchin Thanks Bernard, thats really interesting, Joanne Porter and Rachel Shucksmith will be equally interested, I expect
Rachel Shucksmith that is interesting, if anybody wants anymore pieces removed we are diving here tomorrow and again next weekend....
Joanne Porter Exciting stuff Becky Hitchin better make sure we get that onto the seasearch forms.
Rachel Shucksmith Does anybody know what this is? I tried cut a piece of the rock, but it was very difficult to remove. It is from Okrney, 10m deep and was covering large areas of rock.
Sarah Bowen Encrusting pink algae? It sometimes forms these kind of 'plates' with ruffled edges.
Cynthia D. Trowbridge I agree... also the limpet on the left is often on encrusting red coralline algae.
Rachel Shucksmith And has it turned yellow because it is dying?
Erling Svensen I think the yellow is an encrusting sponge, and the pink is Phymatolithon lenormandii.
Joanne Porter Does anyone know the identity of the sponge?
Erling Svensen Can be breadcrumb sponge, Halichondria panicea
