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

Polymastia hirsuta
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Polymastiida
Family: Polymastiidae
Genus: Polymastia
Species:
P. hirsuta
Binomial name
Polymastia hirsuta
Bergquist, 1968

This is a usually circular sponge up to 7 cm in diameter. This rather distinctive species is generally brown and silt-covered but with prominent papillae appearing as bright yellow, silt-free lumps over the whole surface.

References edit

  • 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.[permanent dead link]