PORIFERA : Dendroceratida : DarwinellidaeSPONGES

Aplysilla sulfurea Schulze, 1878


Aplysilla sulfurea image: umr_2950
Aplysilla sulfurea

Description: Usually grows as small, thin patches (up to 40 x 5 mm)with a pale yellow to bright sulphur yellow colour and a conulose surface. It is soft and compressible. There are no spicules. There are one to several oscules, which are often mounted at the ends of oscular chimneys, 1-3 mm wide.

Habitat: On the low shore under boulders and in the shallow sublittoral in caves or beneath overhangs. Often found with Aplysilla rosea.

Distribution: Found from the littoral to 320 m depth. Found all around Britain and Ireland but not as common on North Sea coast of Britain.

Similar Species: Unlikely to be confused with any other species.

Key Identification Features:

  • Bright yellow colour
  • Conulose surface

Distribution Map from NBN: Aplysilla sulfurea at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Aplysilla sulfurea at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Aplysilla sulfurea at World Register of Marine Species.

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 Picton, B.E., Keatley, L. & Morrow, C.C. (2026). Aplysilla sulfurea. Schulze, 1878. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://habitas.org/mbdp/species.php?item=C9040. Accessed on 2026-11-01