| PORIFERA : HADROMERIDA : Polymastiidae | SPONGES |
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| Polymastia boletiformis |
Description: A thick bulbous sponge, with the upper surface covered by vertical, tapering papillae. The surface is clean and smooth and varies in colour from orange to yellow.
Habitat: Most commonly found on sediment covered, upward facing rock or boulders in the lower infralittoral and circalittoral zones, associated with bryozoans and hydroids. It occurs in a wide variety of physical conditions from areas with strong tidal streams to very sheltered, silty ones.
Distribution: A common species on western and southern coasts of the British Isles.
Similar Species: May be confused with Ciocalypta penicillus and other Polymastia species, however P. boletiformis is a much thicker cushion that stands proud on the rock surface whilst other species are low-lying encrustations.
Key Identification Features:
Distribution Map: NBN map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.
WoRMS: Species record : World Register of Marine Species.
iNaturalist: Species account : iNaturalist World Species Observations database
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| Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2016). Polymastia boletiformis (Lamarck, 1815). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland. https://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=C2580 Accessed on 2024-12-05 |
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