Biodiversity & Conservation

A brown seaweed - Asperococcus scaber

A brown seaweed

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Distribution map

Asperococcus scaber recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

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Asperococcus scaber is not listed under any importance categories.

Taxonomy icon Taxonomy Taxon English term
Phylum Ochrophyta Brown and yellow-green seaweeds
Class Phaeophyceae
Authority Kuckuck
Recent synonyms None
Map icon Recorded Distribution in Britain and Ireland A very rare species in the British Isles, only recorded from the Isles of Scilly. Due to its tiny size this species is probably under recorded.
Habitat information icon Habitat information Found attached to rocks in pools on the lower shore.
Text page icon Description Plants are erect, solitary or occur in groups. The thallus grows up to 13 mm in length and 0.25 mm wide and is thread-like in appearance. The thallus can be either straight or club-shaped and extends from a basal disc. Hairs commonly project from the thallus giving the plant its rough texture.
Identifying features
  • Rough or gritty to touch.
  • Fronds <1 cm in length.
  • Disc shaped holdfast.
Additional information icon Additional information No text entered

This review can be cited as follows:

Michelle Carter 2003. Asperococcus scaber. A brown seaweed. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 09/02/2010]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=2647>