APHOTOMARINE

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography
and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters
and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.

A-P-H-O-T-O Wildlife Stock Image Library
Raspailia (Raspailia) ramosa (Montagu, 1814) ? - Chocolate finger sponge (Sponge images)
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Chocolate finger sponge
Raspailia (Raspailia) ramosa
- lateral view 1

Chocolate finger sponge
Raspailia (Raspailia) ramosa
- lateral view 2

Chocolate finger sponge
Raspailia (Raspailia) ramosa
- lateral view 3

Chocolate finger sponge
Raspailia (Raspailia) ramosa
- section showing spicules 1

Chocolate finger sponge
Raspailia (Raspailia) ramosa
- section showing spicules 2

Chocolate finger sponge
Raspailia (Raspailia) ramosa
- saponified sponge 1

Chocolate finger sponge
Raspailia (Raspailia) ramosa
- spicules 1

Chocolate finger sponge
Raspailia (Raspailia) ramosa
- spicules under microscope on a 0.1mm division rule 1

Chocolate finger sponge
Raspailia (Raspailia) ramosa
- spicules under microscope on a 0.1mm division rule 2

Specimens above found hanging, by the narrow end, from the roof of a small rock crevice on the lowershore at Castle Beach, Falmouth, Cornwall. 19.05.15.

Thanks go go Bernard Picton for suggesting this species.

Chocolate finger sponge
Raspailia (Raspailia) ramosa ?
- washed-up on strandline 1

Chocolate finger sponge
Raspailia (Raspailia) ramosa ?
- close-up 1

Chocolate finger sponge
Raspailia (Raspailia) ramosa ?
- close-up 2

Chocolate finger sponge
Raspailia (Raspailia) ramosa ?
- spicules under microscope on a 0.1mm division rule 3

Chocolate finger sponge
Raspailia (Raspailia) ramosa ?
- spicules under microscope on a 0.1mm division rule 4

Chocolate finger sponge
Raspailia (Raspailia) ramosa ?
- spicules under microscope on a 0.1mm division rule 5

Specimen found washed-up after a gale on the strandline of the northern edge of Carnsew Pool, Hayle, Cornwall. 17.03.16.

This is the most like species for the specimen given the spicule size and range. A considerable number of spicules were broken, which made determination more difficult.

Raspailia ramosa Chocolate finger sponge Porifera Images
The main objective of this website is in furthering environmental awareness and education through the medium of photography. To increase awareness and access to the wildlife of the region and help
people find and identify it. Sometimes the difference between species is obvious but many species can only be determined by observing microscopic characteristics that are specific to any one species.