‘Extraordinary’ 315-million-year-old fossil sponge found near the Cliffs of Moher

The largest 350-million-year-old sponge of it's kind has been discovered on the west coast of Ireland.

Described as an "extraordinary new species" of fossil sponge, dating back to a time when county Clare was located close to the equator, has been discovered in the rocks that make up the Cliffs of Moher.

The 315-million-year-old sponge, named Cyathophycus Balori, is up to 50cm tall and is the largest known example of its kind anywhere in the world. It was found by Dr. Eamon Doyle, geologist for the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark. 

The new species was named after the mythological giant Balor, whose eye wreaked havoc on his enemies when opened.

“This is an exceptionally large example of a type of fossil sponge that was previously only known from much older rocks elsewhere in the world. It's excellent preservation is highly unusual,” said Dr. Doyle. 

“The excellently preserved fossil dates back to a time when the Atlantic Ocean had not even started to form and what we now call county Clare was part of an earlier sea, located near the equator,” he explained. 

“Discoveries like this help us to promote awareness about the wonderful geological legacy we have on our doorstop in county Clare and to encourage a new generation of palaeontologists, that is, geologists that specialise in the study of fossils, to visit and learn more about the unique geology of Ireland’s west coast.”

The new discovery has been published in the latest edition of international geological journal Geobios, with the collaboration of lead author and international fossil sponge expert Dr. Joseph Botting and co-author Dr. Lucy Muir, both Honorary Research Fellows at National Museum Wales worked closely with Dr. Doyle.

According to Dr. Botting: “I was amazed to see the size and excellent state of preservation of this fossil, this was totally unexpected. This find offers important insights into the evolution of sponges and how some species can survive in niche environments where few other species can live. Finding such large and intact specimens is exceptional.”

Dr. Muir added: “This is a wonderful find and reminds us that there are still new and interesting fossils to be found which help us understand the story of life on earth.”

Sponges are creatures with a very basic body plan, they do not have a nervous system or circulatory system, but they form an important part of our biodiversity today.