Common Name: Fan Alga, soft fan alga, Paddle blade algaScientific Name: Avrainvillea nigricans (maybe Udotea flabellum?)
Family: Udoteaceae - tropical, calcified alga
Class: Bryopsidophyceae - macroscopic green alga
Conservation status: not yet assessed
Sighting: Occasionally, in sandy areas between turtle grass beds.
We have seen plenty of this beautiful alga in the sandy areas of Crandon park in Key Biscayne. It is a mesmerizing sighting, as they move in slow motion, back and forth, with the waves.
Classifying this one has been a bit challenging. We are unclear if this is the Paddle blade alga (our best bet) or the fan alga. Pictures look similar, and there are some not very encouraging indications "Positive identification requires laboratory examination of the specimens."
We settle for Paddle blade alga, based on pictures and geographic distribution if any reader can help provide a better identification, we will appreciate.
No comments:
Post a Comment