Polymastia echinus
Species of sponge / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Polymastia echinus is a species of sea sponge belonging to the family Polymastiidae. It is only known from shallow subtidal habitats off Te Hāwere-a-Maki / Goat Island in the north of the North Island of New Zealand.
Quick Facts Polymastia echinus, Scientific classification ...
Polymastia echinus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Porifera |
Class: | Demospongiae |
Order: | Polymastiida |
Family: | Polymastiidae |
Genus: | Polymastia |
Species: | P. echinus |
Binomial name | |
Polymastia echinus Kelly-Borges & Bergquist, 1997 | |
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This is an encrusting sponge with an extraordinary appearance. The sponge is always largely covered in sand, grit and fragments of shells apart from smooth, cylindrical, peach-coloured papillae up to 15 mm in height which are always free of such material. The specific name refers to this rather hedgehog-like appearance.