Verconia verconis? from Western Australia

Dear Wendy,
Yes this is Verconia verconis. Although its colour usually matches the sponge that it feeds on, I am not sure how much of the colour is genetically based and how much much is from pigment obtained from its sponge. I have often found it on sponges of a different colour so I tend to think genetics is quite important. It tends to feed on a number of species of darwinellid sponges which range in colour from pink to orange and yellow. With its shape and texture I suspect it looks much like a small darwinellid sponge colony itself, even when away from any sponge. Since darwinellids are  avoided to a large extent by predators - because of the antifeedant chemicals later used by the nudibranchs - I guess looking like a sponge is as useful a defence as being able to hide on a sponge.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman