Polymastia croceus
Encyclopedia
Polymastia croceus is a species of demosponge
belonging to the family Polymastiidae
. It is found in subtidal habitat
s below 6 m depth in the far north of the North Island
of New Zealand
.
This is a globular sponge up to 4 cm across or an encrusting sponge up to 7 cm across. This soft-textured sponge is very bright yellow outside and in with the surface covered in small papillae, some with pores, some without. This sponge is frequently infested with the parasitic amphipod Polycheria antarctica. At least three species of symbiont foraminifera
are found within this sponge.
Demosponge
The Demospongiae are the largest class in the phylum Porifera. Their "skeletons" are made of spicules consisting of fibers of the protein spongin, the mineral silica, or both. Where spicules of silica are present, they have a different shape from those in the otherwise similar glass sponges...
belonging to the family Polymastiidae
Polymastiidae
Polymastiidae is a family of demosponges found in oceans throughout the world. A useful diagnostic characteristic of members of this family is the presence of numerous surface papillae although this feature is shown by some other sponges.-References:*...
. It is found in subtidal habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s below 6 m depth in the far north of the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
This is a globular sponge up to 4 cm across or an encrusting sponge up to 7 cm across. This soft-textured sponge is very bright yellow outside and in with the surface covered in small papillae, some with pores, some without. This sponge is frequently infested with the parasitic amphipod Polycheria antarctica. At least three species of symbiont foraminifera
Foraminifera
The Foraminifera , or forams for short, are a large group of amoeboid protists which are among the commonest plankton species. They have reticulating pseudopods, fine strands of cytoplasm that branch and merge to form a dynamic net...
are found within this sponge.