Shortly put 7 - Mycale contarenii rediscovered

On November 6, 2024, we discovered the first specimens of the sponge Mycale (Aegogropila) contarenii in the Netherlands near the Plompe Toren (see HERE for a report on this). We subsequently searched for it at that location a few times but did not find it again. Until September 2 when I came across two specimens near the Zeelandbrug. Their appearance was unmistakable; spicule analysis by Mikkel Suijker confirmed the identification. For more photos of the sponge at that location, look HERE.

If you would like to go looking for them yourself: I found them at the junction between the 1st and 2nd bridge piers and the western dive steps. One was at a depth of 12 meters, the other at 17 meters at low tide (the latter in the vicinity of the Horseshoe worms).