Range

• The genus Chaetomorpha is found in tropical, subtropical, and temperate marine waters worldwide.

• Along the eastern Pacific, species occur from the Gulf of Alaska south through the Gulf of California, the Pacific coast of Mexico, Central America, and South America.

• Numerous species occur along the Pacific coast of Guerrero, including the Zihuatanejo region, where they are common on rocky shores, reefs, and tide pools.

Habitat

• Grows attached to rocks, coral rubble, shells, mangrove roots, docks, jetties, and other hard substrates.

• Found in rocky intertidal zones, tide pools, estuaries, lagoons, coral reefs, seagrass beds, and shallow subtidal habitats, with some species occurring to depths exceeding 30 m (100 ft).

• Thrives in areas with moderate to strong water movement and can form dense mats or tangled masses.

Size

• Depending on the species:

• Filament length: 5 cm to over 1 m (2 in–3.3 ft)

• Filament diameter: 0.2–2 mm

• Colonies may form mats several metres across.