Polymastia (sponge)

Polymastia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Hadromerida
Family: Polymastiidae
Genus: Polymastia
Bowerbank, 1863
Species

30+, see text

Polymastia is a genus of sponges (Porifera) containing about 30 species. These are small to large encrusting or dome-shaped sponges with a smooth surface having many teat-shaped projections (papillae). In areas of strong wave action, this genus does not grow the teat structures, but instead grows in a corrugated form.[1]

The image depicts Polymastia pachymastia, often called "aggregated nipple sponge", a species found off the coast of northern California.[2]

Its species include:
  • Polymastia granulosa[4]
  • Polymastia grimaldi
  • Polymastia hirsuta
  • Polymastia inflata
  • Polymastia invaginata[5]
  • Polymastia isidis
  • Polymastia lorum
  • Polymastia mamillaris
  • Polymastia massilis
  • Polymastia megasclera

References

  1. ↑ Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 978-1-77007-772-0
  2. ↑ "Polymastia pachymastia de Laubenfels, 1932". World Register of Marine Species.
  3. ↑ http://www.imagequest3d.com/cgi-bin/ImageFolio4/imageFolio.cgi?action=view&link=aquatic/porifera&image=JMG00329.jpg&img=&tt=
  4. ↑ http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/LPIPOD/BN14818_127~Detail-of-Encrusting-Sponge-Polymastia-Granulosa-Leigh-New-Zealand-Posters.jpg
  5. ↑ http://www.guiamarina.com/chile/01%20animals/01%20Porifera/Polymastia%20invaginata.jpg
  6. ↑ http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=C2610


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