Phorbas pustulosus, or the baseball glove sponge, is a species of demosponge known from the coast of South Africa and from the Patagonian Shelf.

Phorbas pustulosus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Poecilosclerida
Family: Hymedesmiidae
Genus: Phorbas
Species:
P. pustulosus
Binomial name
Phorbas pustulosus
(Carter, 1882)
Synonyms[1]
  • Anaata pustulosa (Carter, 1882)
  • Clathria (Microciona) pustulosa (Carter, 1882)
  • Halichondria pustulosa (Carter, 1882)
  • Pronax pustulosa (Carter, 1882)

Description

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This pale dirty peach sponge grows upright with its irregular branches forming a hand-like form. The surface is slightly rough and covered in bumps, also known as pustules. It is firm and tough. It may grow up to a length of 130 millimetres (5.1 inches) and a width of 120 mm (4.7 in).[2]

Distribution

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The baseball glove sponge is known from the southern and western coasts of South Africa and from the Patagonian Shelf. It is found at a depth of 43–128 m (141–420 ft).[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Phorbas pustulosus". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b Atkinson, Lara; Sink, Kerry (2018), Field Guide to the Offshore Marine Invertebrates of South Africa (PDF), South African Environmental Observation Network, Malachite Marketing and Media (Pty) Ltd, doi:10.15493/saeon.pub.10000001, retrieved 2021-07-24