Leucilla nuttingi (Urban, 1902)

Leucilla nuttingi is a small, delicate, stalked sponge that reaches a maximum height of 3 centimeters. This native sponge has a range from British Columbia to Baja California. Within San Francisco Bay it is found in the central and south regions, as well as the more saline areas of San Pablo Bay. L. nuttingi occurs both inter- and subtidally and because of its small size, requires careful looking in order to be detected among the other fouling organisms. Our collection efforts have yielded this sponge from both dock fouling and benthic trawls.