Javier Couper (Predomalpha), New Zealand
Info
Polymastia aurantia Kelly-Borges & Bergquist, 1997
Spelling Originally Polymastia aurantium but corrected to Polymastia aurantia to match the gender of the genus name.
Polymastia aurantia is a sponge belonging to the family Polymastiidae. It is found in intertidal habitats including tide pools in the vicinity of Auckland, New Zealand.
The sponge is thickly and encrusting with a soft, fleshy texture. The outer surface is bright orange with a yellowish-brown interior and marked with widely spaced papillae. In areas of strong wave action, Polymastia sponges does not grow the teat structures, but instead grows in a corrugated form.
Members of the class Demospongiae are hermaphroditic. Life cycle: The zygote develops into parenchymella larva (free-swimming) before settling down on a substrate where it grows into a young sponge.
This sponge is a filter feeder and suspension feeder.
Spelling Originally Polymastia aurantium but corrected to Polymastia aurantia to match the gender of the genus name.
Polymastia aurantia is a sponge belonging to the family Polymastiidae. It is found in intertidal habitats including tide pools in the vicinity of Auckland, New Zealand.
The sponge is thickly and encrusting with a soft, fleshy texture. The outer surface is bright orange with a yellowish-brown interior and marked with widely spaced papillae. In areas of strong wave action, Polymastia sponges does not grow the teat structures, but instead grows in a corrugated form.
Members of the class Demospongiae are hermaphroditic. Life cycle: The zygote develops into parenchymella larva (free-swimming) before settling down on a substrate where it grows into a young sponge.
This sponge is a filter feeder and suspension feeder.
