Numbers of sponge species recorded in each of 232 marine ecoregions of the world. Irish waters are shaded red, indicating the high diversity of sponge species.

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.[1][2][3][4]

Sponges are animals of the phylum Porifera; sessile aquatic animals without true tissues.[5]

Class Calcarea (calcareous sponges)

Order Clathrinida

Family Clathrinidae

Clathrina contorta growing on Spirastrella cunctatrix
Guancha lacunosa

Order Leucosolenida

Family Grantiidae

Family Leucosoleniidae

Family Sycettidae

Sycon ciliatum

Class Demospongiae (horny sponges)

Order Agelasida

Family Hymerhabdiidae

Order Astrophorida

Family Geodiidae

Pachymatisma johnstonia

Order Axinellida

Family Raspailiidae

Raspailia ramosa

Family Stelligeridae

Order Bubarida

Family Bubaridae

Family Dictyonellidae

Order Chondrillida

Family Halisarcidae

Order Chondrosida

Family Chondrillidae

Order Dendroceratida (keratose/horny sponges)

Family Darwinellidae

Order Dictyoceratida (keratose/horny sponges)

Family Dysideidae

Dysidea fragilis

Order Hadromerida

Family Clionaidae

Red boring sponge

Family Hemiasterellidae

Family Polymastiidae

Polymastia boletiformis

Family Suberitidae

Family Tethyidae

Tethya aurantium

Order Halichondrida

Family Axinellidae

Axinella damicornis

Family Halichondriidae

Closeup view of the breadcrumb sponge

Order Haplosclerida

Family Chalinidae

Order Poecilosclerida

Family Acarnidae

Family Coelosphaeridae

Family Crellidae

Family Desmacellidae

Family Esperiopsidae

Family Hymedesmiidae

Hemimycale columella

Family Microcionidae

Family Mycalidae

Family Myxillidae

Myxilla incrustans

Order Spirophorida

Family Tetillidae

Order Tetractinellida

Family Ancorinidae

Order Verongiida

Family Ianthellidae

Class Homoscleromorpha

Order Homosclerophorida

Family Oscarellidae

Oscarella lobularis

Family Plakinidae

References

  1. ^ "Sponges of Britain and Ireland".
  2. ^ "Small Scale Study: Classification of freshwater sponges in Ireland". Environmental Protection Agency. 2013.
  3. ^ Ferriss, S. E.; Smith, K. G.; Inskipp, T. P., eds. (2009). "Irish Biodiversity: a taxonomic inventory of fauna" (PDF). National Parks & Wildlife Service.
  4. ^ "Species - Biodiversity Maps". maps.biodiversityireland.ie.
  5. ^ "Irish sea sponges could produce cure for cancer and HIV". Independent.ie.
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