Sponge

Orange puffball sponge

Tethya californiana

Rocky reefs, kelp forests, and low-tide crevices; also deeper rocky habitat

Photo: (c) Nathan, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY · Source and license. Displayed as a resized crop. Photograph illustrates the species.

Habitat: Rocky reefs, kelp forests, and low-tide crevices; also deeper rocky habitat
Published depth range: Low intertidal to 440 m
Viewing activities: Scuba diving · Beach / tidepool

What to look for

A rounded orange or golden sponge with a rough surface of grooves and ridges.

What it eats

Filters suspended plankton and organic particles from the water.

Wider distribution

British Columbia to the Gulf of California.

When to look

The available records do not establish a reliable local viewing season. Use the map’s month filter to inspect dated observations; it does not predict an encounter.

RECORDED PRESENCE

Where has Orange puffball sponge been recorded?

These destination links use the same area and date cutoff as the map: 40 km circles, except for the four named regional rectangles. Checked 2026-09-19. Counts describe source records, not individual animals or sighting odds.

Channel IslandsCalifornia, United States40 km radius · 35107 source records since 2016About this destination →La JollaCalifornia, United States40 km radius · 460 source records since 2016About this destination →La PazBaja California Sur, Mexico40 km radius · 1 source records since 2016About this destination →Monterey BayCalifornia, United StatesRegional rectangle · 46369 source records since 2016About this destination →

Sources, search boundaries and limitations