Red sea fan • Callophyllis pinnataIdentification
Red sea fan species (Callophyllis spp.) are flattened, fan-shaped red algae with veinless, dichotomously-branched blades. Branch width and length vary between species, though such characteristics are generally not enough to accurately differentiate between species. Confirmation at even the genus level may require microscopic examination. See the AlgaeBase Callophyllis page for genus identification details, and see the AlgaeBase species page for more photos. Mature C. pinnata plants tend to be more than 10 cm tall, have end branch segments measuring 2-10 cm long, and have smooth margins. Habitat & Range Red sea fan species mostly grow in the subtidal to depths of 20 m, though they may occasionally be found in the low intertidal. They are mostly perennial, and grow on rock, other algae (epiphytic), and animals (epizoic). They are found from northern Alaska to northern Mexico. C. pinnata is one of the more common species in the genus. Similar Species Frilly red ribbon (Palmaria callophylloides), a similar red alga, grows in the high to mid-intertidal. |
Callophyllis pinnata specimens from Calvert Island beaches; specimen collection number SCL 15375 in the UBC Herbarium Algae Database. Image courtesy of Sandra Lindstrom. Search the collection numbers in the database for further details on these specimens, or search this species for additional occurrences.
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References
Gabrielson, Paul W., Thomas Benjamin Widdowson, and Sandra C. Lindstrom. Keys to the seaweeds and seagrasses of southeast Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. No. 8. University of British Columbia, 2012.
Lamb, A., and Hanby, B. (2005). Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest [electronic version]. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing.
Lindberg, M. and Lindstrom, S. (2010). Callophyllis spp. Red Sea Fan. Seaweeds of Alaska. Accessed 01/04/2015.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell and Brian Starzomski (2015).
Gabrielson, Paul W., Thomas Benjamin Widdowson, and Sandra C. Lindstrom. Keys to the seaweeds and seagrasses of southeast Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. No. 8. University of British Columbia, 2012.
Lamb, A., and Hanby, B. (2005). Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest [electronic version]. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing.
Lindberg, M. and Lindstrom, S. (2010). Callophyllis spp. Red Sea Fan. Seaweeds of Alaska. Accessed 01/04/2015.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell and Brian Starzomski (2015).
