PORT PHILLIP BAY


Green Seaweed 

Codium fragile

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:
fragile

General Description

Thick algae with long cylindrical branches arising in a forked pattern on one plane (distichous) tapering slightly at tips. Dark green. Up to 50 cm long (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

Tidal pools, and subtidal reefs in moderate to rough waters, to depth of about 30 m.

Reefs

Coastal shores

Distribution guide

New Zealand and southern 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

50 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, Codium fragile, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/12593

Text: creative commons cc by licence