It is believed to be native to intertidal waters in the north east temperate Pacific Ocean and was first found in seawater aquaria in that region.

Oscarella carmela is either encrusting or massive and forms a slimy covering or a thicker layer of spongy matter with an uneven, lumpy, lobed surface.

This sponge does not contain spicules or spongin to reinforce its body wall and has a simple structure with only two types of cell with inclusions.

[3] It was later searched for, and eventually found, in the sea on the underside of boulders in rock pools in the high intertidal zone in Carmel Bay.

It is hypothesized that in the wild it may be limited in its distribution by predation, whereas in the protected environment of an aquarium it grows profusely.