Polymastia pepo is a species of sea sponge belonging to the family Polymastiidae. It is a common species of rocky subtidal and intertidal habitats in the far north of North Island, New Zealand.

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

This is a large, often spherical sponge up to 40 cm in diameter. It is firm and bright orange and rather resembles a pumpkin (hence the specific name: "pepo" is Latin for "pumpkin").

References

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  • Michelle Kelly-Borges; Patricia R. Bergquist (September 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". New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. 31 (3): 367–402. doi:10.1080/00288330.1997.9516772. ISSN 0028-8330. Wikidata Q55885986.