Polymastia fusca

Polymastia fusca is a species of sea sponge belonging to the family Polymastiidae. It is found in shallow subtidal habitats in the far north of North Island, New Zealand.

Polymastia fusca
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Polymastiida
Family: Polymastiidae
Genus: Polymastia
Species:
P. fusca
Binomial name
Polymastia fusca
Bergquist, 1961

This firm-textured sponge grows up to 20 cm across, often encrusting its substrate. The outer layer is very dark brown, contrasting with a much paler yellow or orange interior. The whole surface is covered in papillae, those at the centre markedly taller than those at the periphery.

References

  • Michelle Kelly-Borges & Patricia R. Bergquist (1997). "Revision of Southwest Pacific Polymastiidae (Porifera: Demospongiae: Hadromerida) with descriptions of new species of Polymastia Bowerbank, Tylexocladus Topsent, and Acanthopolymastia gen. nov. from New Zealand and the Norfolk Ridge, New Caledonia" (PDF). New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. 31 (3): 367–402. doi:10.1080/00288330.1997.9516772.


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