PORT PHILLIP BAY


Green Seaweed 

Chaetomorpha linum

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Can be confused with Chaetomorpha capillaris which occurs in the intertidal and has small cells. Can be confused with Chaetomorpha valida which has long cells and is dark green in colour. Can be confused with Chaetomorpha indica which has small cells and is light to medium green in colour. Can also be confused with Chaetomorpha billardierii which has fairly straight, flexible and light green filaments, though habitat can affect form. There is disagreement in the literature about whether this is the same species as C. aerea.

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
Subphylum:
Tetraphytina
Class:
Ulvophyceae
Order:
Cladophorales
Family:
Cladophoraceae
Genus:
Chaetomorpha
Species:
linum

General Description

Rigid and rough textured (hair-like) filaments (thallus) appearing curved and often entangled in a mass. Singular unbranched filaments are the same width throughout their length. Unattached. Medium to dark green. Filaments are long.

Biology

This widespread alga is used in the aquarium trade as it removes nitrates from the water and provides habitat for small invertebrates. It has replaced Caulerpa species as the preferred aquarium plant in some locations because it is less likely to reproduce in aquaria and risk spreading as a marine pest like Caulerpa species do.

Habitat

Intertidal near low tide level and shallow subtidal, sheltered waters, to depth of 3 m.

Reefs

Coastal shores

Distribution guide

Worldwide.

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

Diet

Photosynthetic - sunlight

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, Chaetomorpha linum, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/12318

Text: creative commons cc by licence