Sponges

Finger Sponge (Haliclona oculata) - Short stalk with flat to rounded finger-shaped branches. Light brown, gray-brown, or purple in color. Found attached to rock habitat from low tide line to 400'. Grows to 18" high.

Crumb of Bread Sponge (Halichondria parma) - Encrusting sponge found on rock, pilings, etc. Colors vary from brown, orange, yellow and green. Occurs in many shapes, but normally has cone-shaped bulges. Can grow to several feet in diameter. Can be difficult to identify. Intertidal to 200'.

Red Beard Sponge (Microciona prolifera) - Short branching sponge with flattened branches. Differs from Finger Sponge in color - orange to red. Found on rock, pilings and other solid substrate. Grows up to 8" high. Subtidal depths.

Common Palmate Sponge (Isodictya palmata) - Sponge with more flattened than rounded branches. Holes (oscula) in sponge are very obvious - more so than any other branching sponge in the region. Grows to 12" high. Color yellow, brown to orange. Found sub-tidally.