Batters’ green branched weed (Lychaete battersii)

Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). To interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.Map Help

Summary

Description

Lychaete battersii is a small filamentous green algae. It may reach up to 3 cm in height. It is a regularly branched, rather stiff species. The curved branches narrow from the base giving a spinous appearance. Growth predominently occurs between the base and the apex of the thallus. It is usually unattached, forming dark green masses.

Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland

Currently known from a few locations around the British Isles and Ireland: Portland (Dorset), North Uist (Inverness-shire) and Northern Ireland.

Global distribution

Only recorded from the British Isles.

Habitat

Lychaete battersii is a shallow subtidal species often found loose-lying in sheltered habitats, occasionally tangled around Zostera plants and other algae.

Depth range

-

Identifying features

  • Dark green filamentous masses.
  • Curved, pointed branches.
  • Dominent growth in the middle of the thallus.
  • Rhizoids absent.

Additional information

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Listed by

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Further information sources

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Bibliography

  1. Burrows, E.M., 1991. Seaweeds of the British Isles. Volume 2. Chlorophyta. London: British Museum (Natural History).

  2. Dickinson, C.I., 1963. British seaweeds. London & Frome: Butler & Tanner Ltd.

  3. Hardy, F.G. & Guiry, M.D., 2003. A check-list and atlas of the seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. London: British Phycological Society

  4. Howson, C.M. & Picton, B.E., 1997. The species directory of the marine fauna and flora of the British Isles and surrounding seas. Belfast: Ulster Museum. [Ulster Museum publication, no. 276.]

Datasets

  1. NBN (National Biodiversity Network) Atlas. Available from: https://www.nbnatlas.org.

  2. OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System),  2025. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2025-05-02

  3. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 2018. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Herbarium (E). Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/ypoair accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-02.

Citation

This review can be cited as:

Barnes, M.K.S. 2019. Lychaete battersii Batters’ green branched weed. In Tyler-Walters H. and Hiscock K. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Reviews, [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 02-05-2025]. Available from: https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/139

Last Updated: 01/08/2019