A red seaweed (Cryptopleura ramosa)
A rock shelf dominated by Cryptopleura ramosa with Laminaria sp. at 20 m depth.
Photographer: Keith Hiscock Copyright: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)
Cryptopleura ramosa and horse shoe worms on shallow boulders.
Photographer: Keith Hiscock Copyright: Dr Keith Hiscock
Specimen of Cryptopleura ramosa.
Photographer: Dr F. Arenas Copyright: Marine Biological Association of the UK (MBA)
Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS). To interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.
Only coastal and marine records shown
| Researched by | Joelene Hughes | Refereed by | Admin |
| Authority | (Hudson) L.Newton, 1931 | ||
| Other common names | - | Synonyms | - |
Summary
Description
Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland
Distributed around Britain and Ireland, being recorded more commonly in the south and sparsely in the east.Global distribution
Found from southern Norway and the Faeroe Isles to Spain. Also recorded in the Mediterranean and Brazil.Habitat
Found subtidally growing on rock and Laminaria hyperborea stipes. Grows on shaded areas on the sides of deep pools or under the cover of Fucus species in the intertidal.Depth range
-Identifying features
- Cryptopleura ramosa has numerous subdivided strap-like to broad, wedge-shaped blades.
- Prostate blades are secured to the substratum by numerous haptera (a specialised, multicellular attachment structure).
- The erect blades are attached with a stipe-like structure resulting from basal erosion of the lamina exposing the midrib.
- The midrib divides with the branches but becomes indistinct in the upper regions.
- The veins are approximately parallel and visible under bright light.
- Cystocarps are strewn all over the thallus and the tetrasporangia occur in broken lines along the margin or lateral proliferations.
- The male is distinguishable from the female as it is smaller and has pale antheridial patches near the tips of its branches.
Additional information
Cryptopleura ramosa var. uncinata has characteristic hooked margins. The marginal hooks distinguish it from the similar Acrosorium venulosum that has both terminal and marginal hooks. When fan-shaped, Cryptopleura ramosa may closely resemble Erythroglossum laciniatum but may be distinguished by the margins and venation. Polyneura bonnemaisonii, another similar species, differs from Cryptopleaura ramosa in the more scattered distribution of the tetrasporangia and spiny outer wall to the cystocarps. Polyneura bonnemaisonii infrequently displays prostate blades, and the haptera attaching them to the substrate, are marginal as opposed to the peg-like haptera seen in Cryptopleura ramosa.Listed by
- none -
Bibliography
Dickinson, C.I., 1963. British seaweeds. London & Frome: Butler & Tanner Ltd.
Hardy, F.G. & Guiry, M.D., 2003. A check-list and atlas of the seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. London: British Phycological Society
Hayward, P., Nelson-Smith, T. & Shields, C. 1996. Collins pocket guide. Sea shore of Britain and northern Europe. London: HarperCollins.
Hiscock, S., 1986b. A field key to the British Red Seaweeds. Taunton: Field Studies Council. [Occasional Publication No.13]
Maggs, C.A. & Hommersand, M.H., 1993. Seaweeds of the British Isles: Volume 1 Rhodophycota Part 3A Ceramiales. London: Natural History Museum, Her Majesty's Stationary Office.
Norton, T.A. (ed.), 1985. Provisional Atlas of the Marine Algae of Britain and Ireland. Huntingdon: Biological Records Centre, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology.
Citation
This review can be cited as:
Last Updated: 01/07/2003
