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Green Algae of Zihuatanejo

PHYLUM CHLOROPHYTA

-Plants (Kingdom Plantae)

-Green Algae (Phylum Chlorophyta)

-Ulvophycean Green Algae (Class Ulvophyceae)

-Order Bryopsidales

-Family Caulerpaceae

-Genus Caulerpa

-Green Feather Alga (Caulerpa sertularioides)


Also known as Mexican Seaweed, Feather Caulerpa is generally considered to be a fern macroalgae. It has a bright green, feather-like growth pattern. Grows in shallow sandy areas, often between protected shallow reefs. It can also be found in areas of mangroves and occasionally attach to their roots.

Green Feather Alga
(Caulerpa sertularioides)

Range

  • Widely distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific and the tropical eastern Pacific.

  • Along the eastern Pacific, it occurs from the Gulf of California south through the Pacific coast of Mexico, Central America, and South America to Peru, including the Galápagos Islands.

  • Common along the Pacific coast of Guerrero, including the Zihuatanejo region, where it is one of the most abundant green algae on shallow reefs.

Habitat

  • Grows on rocky reefs, coral reefs, reef flats, tide pools, sandy bottoms, seagrass beds, and coral rubble.

  • Typically found from the intertidal zone to depths of about 40 m (130 ft).

  • Forms extensive underwater meadows by spreading through creeping stolons anchored by numerous root-like rhizoids.

Size

  • Frond height: 10–40 cm (4–16 in)

  • Stolon length: Often exceeds 2 m (6.6 ft) as colonies spread across the seabed.

  • Individual feather-like fronds are typically 5–20 cm (2–8 in) long.

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