Haliclona (Soestella) xena De Weerdt 1986

Haliclona (Soestella) xena was first discovered in the Netherlands in 1977. It took until 1986 before this species - previously unknown to science - was described and assigned a scientific name. In the year 2009 this species occurs along the Dutch coast, in Zeeland as well as the Wadden Sea. In Belgium, this species was first reported in 1988 at the marina of Zeebrugge, and since 2009 is also found in the Ostend Sluice dock. This purple-red to pale brown sponge can be found adhered to many substrate types in marine and brackish water.