Biodiversity & Conservation

A red seaweed - Rhodothamniella floridula

Rhodothamniella floridula

Image Mike Firth - Rhodothamniella floridula Image width ca XX cm.
Image copyright information

Distribution map

Rhodothamniella floridula recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

Why do the maps differ?

Sightings Have you seen Rhodothamniella floridula?
If so please submit your record.

Rhodothamniella floridula is not listed under any importance categories.

Taxonomy icon Taxonomy Taxon English term
Phylum Rhodophyta Red seaweeds
Class Florideophyceae
Authority (Dillwyn) J Feldmann
Recent synonyms Rhodochorton floridulum, Audouinella floridula
Map icon Recorded Distribution in Britain and Ireland Rhodothamniella floridula occurs on the coast of Scotland, the north east, south and south west coasts of England and in Wales and Northern Ireland.
Habitat information icon Habitat information Rhodothamniella floridula usually occurs on sand-covered rocks in the littoral and sublittoral to about 5 m depth (as Rhodochorton floridulum and Audouinella floridula respectively) (Dickinson, 1963; Dixon & Irvine, 1997). Rhodothamniella floridula (as Audouinella floridula) inhabits areas in shelter, partly under larger seaweeds (Hayward et al., 1996).
Text page icon Description Rhodothamniella floridula is a perennial brownish red seaweed found on the lower shore. It usually covers large areas of rock in sandy habitats. At the base of the seaweed, filaments bind with sand to form a spongy, carpet like mass. The filaments are well-spaced and branch out up to 3 cm in length. Upright filaments of the seaweed uncovered by the ebbing tide appear as tufts of hair. When plants dry out they have a purplish tinge.
Identifying features
  • Brownish red in colour
  • The base forms a spongy, carpet like covering on rocks
  • Fine branched filaments up to 3 cm in length
  • Branches may be upright or creeping
Additional information icon Additional information

Want to know more? more

This review can be cited as follows:

Karen Riley 2005. Rhodothamniella floridula. 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 03/09/2010]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=4246>