Phylum Porifera
Elegant branching sponge
Haliclona
sp.*
Family Chalinidae
updated Aug 10

Where seen? This elegant branching sponge is often seen on our Northern shores, growing on hard surfaces, including pipes, jetty legs, abandoned drums. Usually near the mid-water mark.

Features: The sponge looks like thin roots that spread out over a hard surface. Branches thin (about 2cm wide) tapering to points. Some have recessed holes along the length, others have spikes, knobs with large holes or short hollow tubes along the length. The entire sponge may cover an area of about 30cm. Colours bright light blue, bright purple or olive green. Sometimes bright yellow.

Changi, Jul 10

Chek Jawa, Jul 05

Elegant branching sponges on Singapore shores


East Coast, Jun 06

Beting Bronok, May 03

Changi, May 06

more photos of elegant branching sponges on Singapore shores
northern shores part 1 | part 2 | part 3
southern shores

*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.

References

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