Habitat 
Depth 
Group 
Role WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
It forms yellow to orange masses of irregular, often stout lobes. Some can reach around twenty centimetres high. Outlines vary, with broad openings topping rounded or elongated lobes.
Oscula, the water outlets, are conspicuous. Small projections mark the surface. Spongin fibres, organic support material, and spicules, tiny mineral elements, contribute to the skeleton. Consistency should not be tested by squeezing.
WHERE DOES IT LIVE?
It uses dim rocky surfaces, notably beneath overhangs and in semi-dark cave zones. French records include Provence and Corsica. Surfaces may be vertical or downward-facing.
Depth alone does not describe the habitat: a shallow cavity may be darker than a deeper wall. Water movement and refuge shape also contribute to conditions.
WHAT DOES IT EAT?
Water enters many pores, passes through the body and leaves through oscula. Specialised cells bearing a moving filament maintain flow and help capture bacteria and other microscopic food.
The sponge also houses microbial communities in its tissues. Pumping, food retention and microbial partnerships are complementary aspects.
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