Chalinula loosanoffi (Loosanoff's Haliclona, Eroded Sponge*) is an encrusting sponge, forming chimneys up to 25 mm tall, with oscula (outflow openings) about 3 mm wide. The surface of the sponge is marked by numerous smaller incurrent pores. The colony is tan to gold, spreading to 50-75 mm in diameter, The colonies grow on pilings, floats. rocks, eelgrass, and shells. It is native to the Northwest Atlantic from Nova Scotia to Georgia. It has been introduced to West Coast estuaries from Willapa Bay to San Francisco Bay and Elkhorn Slough, and locally in Europe, to estuaries in the Netherlands , Ireland, and Northern Ireland, Likely vectors are Eastern Oysters and ship fouling. This sponge is tolerant of extremes of temperature, salinity, and dessication.
^This sponge is named for Victor Loosanoff, a prominent 20th century shellfish biologist.
Photo by Robert Bachand, Animal Diversity Web