Form: Stalked and branching-erect. The branching is usually dichotomous, and the branches are simple or coalescent, cylindrical in cross- section. The exaggeratedly bushy, much-branched, forms seem to be typical of estuarine or strong current conditions. Under extreme conditions the coalescence of the branches may be almost total, leaving a fist-shaped form.

Colour: Usually pale yellow/beige, but lilac or pink forms have been reported (due to symbiotic algae?). New growths tend to be pinker.

Smell: None.

Consistency: Very soft and elastic near the branch tips, becoming firmer near the base. The base may, in older specimens, be very firm and elastic (never wiry). Unlike many other branched sponges, there is no strong central core to the branches.

Surface: Even textured, soft, and very slightly velvety, but not markedly velvety as Axinella dissimilis (q.v.).

Apertures:

• The oscules are small (0.5 - 2mm diameter), round, neat, slightly raised, and remain easily visible even when the sponge is removed from the water. Usually serially arranged along the edges of the branches. Numerous.

Contraction:

• Not noticeable.

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Synonyms: Chalina oculata (Pallas, 1766:390); Chalina arbuscula Verrill & Smith, 1873. See de Weerdt, 1986 for other synonyms.

Internal characters

Skeleton: A regular anisotropic reticulation of spongin fibres. These surround singly or biserially arranged megascleres (short fat oxea), which form a single spicule network at the branch tips. The spicule fibres tend to be formed nearer the base, increasingly surrounded by quantities of spongin. "Quantity of spongin variable, increasing with age."

Spicules: The spicules are short fat oxea 80-140 μm long, usually less than 100 μm in UK specimens; width 5-13 μm. There are no microscleres.

Identity: By eye alone, if very soft and elastic, with branches that are even in diameter with neat, round, easily visible oscules. The absence of a strong central core distinguishes Haliclona oculata from Raspailia and Stelligera (q.v.).

Distribution Map from NBN: Haliclona oculata at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Haliclona oculata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Haliclona oculata at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Haliclona (Haliclona) oculata (Linnaeus, 1759). AphiaID: 132833.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Porifera; Demospongiae; Heteroscleromorpha; Haplosclerida; Chalinidae; Haliclona

Voucher: BELUM : Mc528. Sherkin Is., Cork.

Editors: J.D. Guiterman, D. Moss, B.E. Picton.