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Rough puff sponge

Tethya californiana
Rough puff sponge, next to strawberry anemone

Rough puff sponge

Tethya californiana
Other Common Names
Orange puffball sponge, golf ball sponge
At the Aquarium
Rocky Coast
Other Common Names
Orange puffball sponge, golf ball sponge

At the Aquarium

Rocky Coast

Appearance

This spherical sponge has a rough yellow or orange outer surface.

Habitat

Rocky habitats including kelp forests, seamounts, submarine canyons, and in crevices and tidepools in the lower intertidal to depths of 82 feet.

Diet

Filter feeds on bacteria, tiny particles, and organic matter

Life History

These sponges can reproduce both sexually and asexually. To reproduce asexually, it will form buds that it then releases into the water. For sexual reproduction, eggs are fertilized internally. Multiple larvae may settle together and end up forming a composite sponge. Can grow up to 8 inches in diameter.

IUCN Status

Not Evaluated

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

These sponges are eaten by nudibranchs. Marine sponges are host to many microbial species. The orange roughball sponge microbiome includes Stramenopiles phototrophic organisms in its tissue, and might provide the sponge with some nutrients from photosynthesis.
Range
British Columbia to Baja California, Mexico
On the Oregon Coast
You might find one of these sponges in a tidepool.
Fun Facts
The surface contains many small pores called ostia, which is where water, carrying both food and oxygen, enters the sponge. Water and waste exits through the osculum, a larger opening.

Citations & Other Resources

  • Monterey Bay Aquarium
  • SIMoN (Sanctuary Integrated Monitoring Network) website
  • Sipkema, Detmer, and Harvey W. Blanch. inchesSpatial distribution of bacteria associated with the marine sponge Tethya californiana.inches Marine Biology 157 (2010): 627-638.
  • Turner, Thomas L. inchesThe order Tethyida (Porifera) in California: taxonomy, systematics, and the first member of the family Hemiasterellidae in the Eastern Pacific.inches bioRxiv (2020): 2020-04.
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Since opening in 1992, the Oregon Coast Aquarium has been a premier attraction on Oregon’s central coast and an enduring advocate for the health of our ocean. For over three decades this 501(c)3 non-profit organization has supported marine wildlife and fostered environmental stewardship through its education programs, community partnerships, and rehabilitation efforts. Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 aquariums in the U.S., providing visitors with opportunities to connect with 15,000 animals spanning 300 different species. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is located at 2820 S.E. Ferry Slip Rd., Newport, OR. Learn more about the Oregon Coast Aquarium and its vital work at aquarium.org, 541-867-3474. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates.

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