Biodiversity & Conservation

A red seaweed - Callophyllis laciniata

Callophyllis laciniata

Image Keith Hiscock - Callophyllis laciniata on shallow cobbles. Image width ca 10 cm.
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Distribution map

Callophyllis laciniata recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

Why do the maps differ?

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Callophyllis laciniata is not listed under any importance categories.

Taxonomy icon Taxonomy Taxon English term
Phylum Rhodophyta Red seaweeds
Class Florideophyceae
Authority (Hudson) Kützing (1843)
Recent synonyms None
Map icon Recorded Distribution in Britain and Ireland Recorded throughout the British Isles, but uncommon in the south east of England between Hampshire and Suffolk, probably due to lack of suitable substrata.
Habitat information icon Habitat information Callophyllis laciniata can be commonly found attached to rock in the lower littoral and shallow sublittoral to at least 30 m. It is also often found attached to kelp stipes and holdfasts on both sheltered and exposed shores.
Text page icon Description A short soft, fleshy thallus arises and expands immediately from a small round (discoid) holdfast. The stipe is inconspicuous or absent and the crimson, brownish or purple-red fronds are much divided spreading out into wedge shaped divisions of about 1-3 cm broad. The whole blade can be up to 15 cm long and fan shaped with overlapping sections. Frond tips are rounded and end in tiny marginal leaflets giving a fringed appearance.
Identifying features
  • Soft fleshy red thallus.
  • Thallus arising immediately from holdfast.
  • No conspicuous stipe.
  • Repeatedly branched wedge shaped fronds displaying a fan shaped blade.
    Additional information icon Additional information Often confused with Cryptopleura ramosa with which it often grows and can be distinguished if Cryptopleura ramosa shows iridescence as Callophyllis lacinata does not.

    This review can be cited as follows:

    Anna Neish 2006. Callophyllis laciniata. A red 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=2855>