Sycon ciliatum

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Sycon ciliatum
Growing on a mussel shell
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Calcarea
Order: Leucosolenida
Family: Sycettidae
Genus: Sycon
Species:
S. ciliatum
Binomial name
Sycon ciliatum
(Fabricius, 1780)
Synonyms
List
  • Grantia ciliatum (Fabricius, 1870)
  • Scypha ciliata (Fabricius, 1780)
  • Scypha coronata (Ellis & Solander, 1786)
  • Spongia ciliata Fabricius, 1780
  • Spongia coronata Ellis & Solander, 1786
  • Spongia paniceum Esper, 1794
  • Sycandra ciliata (Fabricius, 1780)
  • Sycandra ciliata var. lanceolata (Haeckel, 1872)
  • Sycandra ciliata var. ovata (Haeckel, 1872))
  • Sycandra commutatum Haeckel, 1872
  • Sycandra coronata (Ellis & Solander, 1786)
  • Sycocystis oviformis Haeckel, 1870
  • Sycodendrum ramosum Haeckel, 1870
  • Sycon coronatum (Ellis & Solander, 1786)
  • Syconella tubulosum Haeckel, 1870
  • Sycum giganteum Haeckel, 1870
  • Sycum lanceolatum Haeckel, 1870
  • Sycum ovatum Haeckel, 1870 [1]

Sycon ciliatum is a species of calcareous sponge belonging to the family Sycettidae.

Description[edit]

This small purse sponge grows singly or in small groups from a single holdfast. It is up to five centimetres long, fairly stiff, greyish-white and spindle-shaped. The osculum at the tip is fringed with fine spicules.[2] The surface of the sponge appears furry from its covering of fine papillae. The skeleton consists of a tangential layer of triactines and another of tetractines. This species can be distinguished from the rather similar Sycon raphanus by the fact that the choanocyte chambers are not fused but are free from each other.[3]

Distribution and habitat[edit]

Sycon ciliatum is common along the coasts of Europe and occurs on the eastern fringes of the Atlantic Ocean from Scandinavia south to Portugal.[3] It is found low down on the shore and in the neritic zone, amongst seaweed, under stones or in rock pools in areas without strong wave action.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ World Register of Marine Species
  2. ^ a b Barrett, J. & C. M. Yonge (1958) Collins Pocket Guide to the Sea Shore. Collins, London p41.
  3. ^ a b Marine Species Identification Portal