English

Noun

poriferologist ‎(plural poriferologists)

1. (rare) A biologist whose specialty is the study of poriferans (sponges of the phylum Porifera).
   • 1964, Animal kingdom, volume 67-68, New York Zoological Society:

     Besides Dr. Nigrelli the party included Dr. Martin F. Stempien, Jr., of the Aquarium staff, Dr. Gustavo Pulitzer, a marine ecologist and poriferologist of Portofino, Italy

   • 1978, Monographs on oceanographic methodology, volume 5, Unesco:

     Poriferologists generally agree that a sponge mass bounded by pinacocytes is an individual rather than a colony.

   • 1990, Richard C. Brusca, Gary J. Brusca, Invertebrates:

     The great variability in sponge morphology and the difficulty in precisely setting the limits of a sponge species have probably driven many potential poriferologists to frustration (and to other taxa) early in their careers.

Related terms

• poriferan