A brown seaweed (Asperococcus scaber)

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

Summary

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.

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.

Global distribution

North east Atlantic, Mediterranean.

Habitat

Found attached to rocks in pools on the lower shore.

Depth range

-

Identifying features

  • Rough or gritty to touch.
  • Fronds <1 cm in length.
  • Disc shaped holdfast.

Additional information

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Listed by

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Further information sources

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Bibliography

  1. Fletcher, R.L., 1987. Seaweeds of the British Isles vol. 3. Fucophyceae (Phaeophyceae) Part 1. London: British Museum (Natural History).

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

  3. 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.]

  4. Newton, L., 1931. A handbook of the British seaweeds. London: British Museum (Natural History).

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: 2025-05-21

Citation

This review can be cited as:

Carter, M.C. 2003. Asperococcus scaber A brown seaweed. 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 21-05-2025]. Available from: https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/1935

Last Updated: 18/07/2003