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


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