PORT PHILLIP BAY


Green Seaweed 

Codium lucasii

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Similar to other species in the genus Codium and most reliably distinguished by microscopic examination of utricles.

Codium australicum: club-shaped, flat-topped utricles; branches forked multiple times.

Codium duthieae: club-shaped, thin-walled utricles; branches forked once, flattened at fork.

Codium fragile: cylindrical utricles tapering to apical point; branches forked multiple times.

Codium galeatum: helmet-shaped (galeate) top of utricles with thickened caps; branches forked multiple times.

Codium harveyi: short, flat utricles with thickened wall at the top; branches forked multiple times, tapered at tip.

Codium lucasii: cylindrical utricles, pinched near the top and with pitted end wall; unbranched.

Main information sources:
Womersley, H.B.S., (1984-2003). The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia. Part 1-3d. Govt. Printer, South Australia.
Baldock, R.N. 2010. Algae Revealed. South Australian State Herbarium. Website.
AlgaeBase. Website.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chlorophyta
Class:
Ulvophyceae
Order:
Bryopsidales
Family:
Codiaceae
Genus:
Codium
Species:
lucasii

General Description

Thick lobed algae sprawling over rock surface. Utricles (bud-like structure on algal surface) are long and constricted slightly about a quarter of the way from the tip giving rise to a bulbous shape with a flat-rounded tip. Dark green. Up to 1 cm high and 15 cm across (thallus).

Biology

Like all Codium species, this seaweed is composed of only a single cell and can repair itself if damaged. It appears fluffy underwater and feels velvet-like out of water due to hundreds of tiny hair-like filaments on its surface.

Habitat

Mid to low rocky intertidal on moderate-rough water coasts, to depth of about 1 m.

Reefs

Coastal shores

Distribution guide

Kenya, South Africa, Japan and Australia.

Species Group

Seaweeds and seagrasses › Green algae

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

15 cm

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Identify

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Pocklington, Jacqui

Jacqui Pocklington is a Research Associate with expertise in algal taxonomy.

citation

Cite this page as:
Pocklington, Jacqui, 2011, Green Seaweed, Codium lucasii, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/11145

Text: creative commons cc by licence