Polymastia rubens

Polymastia rubens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Hadromerida
Family: Polymastiidae
Genus: Polymastia
Species: P. rubens
Binomial name
Polymastia rubens
Kelly-Borges & Bergquist, 1997

Polymastia rubens is a species of demosponge belonging to the family Polymastiidae. It is only known from rocky subtidal habitats around Kawau Island off North Island, New Zealand.

This is an encrusting sponge with a very firm texture, growing in patches up to 7 cm across. The outer layer is bright red with a brown interior. The surface is smooth apart from small wart-like papillae.

References