Corallina vancouveriensis
| Corallina vancouveriensis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | CAM |
| Clade: | Archaeplastida |
| Division: | Rhodophyta |
| Class: | Florideophyceae |
| Order: | Corallinales |
| Family: | Corallinaceae |
| Genus: | Corallina |
| Species: | C. vancouveriensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Corallina vancouveriensis Yendo, 1902
| |
Corallina vancouveriensis (also known as graceful coral seaweed) is a species of red algae found along the west coast of North America.[1]
Description
Corallina vancouveriensis is a branching, calcareous algae that resembles coral. It is light pink to purple in colour, but will bleach white if exposed for long periods of time. Upright pinnate branches emerge from a tightly-packed base.
Range, habitat and ecology
Corallina vancouveriensis is found along the west coast of North America from Mexico to Alaska and through the Aleutian Islands. It is also found in the Galápagos Islands and Japan.[2]
It is found in mid to low intertidal zones and in tidepools.[3] It is able to spread opportunistically to newly-cleared spaces on rocks.[1]
Research has found that sea urchins are attracted to C. vancouveriensis, which aid in protecting the juvenile urchins from predatory crabs.[4][5]
References
- ^ a b "E-Flora BC Atlas Page". linnet.geog.ubc.ca. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ^ "Graceful coral seaweed • Corallina vancouveriensis". Biodiversity of the Central Coast. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ^ "Seaweeds of Alaska". www.seaweedsofalaska.com. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ^ Yiu, Dara S.; Feehan, Colette J. (2017-03-15). "Articulated coralline algae provide a spatial refuge to juvenile sea urchins from predatory crabs". Marine Biology. 164 (4): 76. doi:10.1007/s00227-017-3108-y. ISSN 1432-1793.
- ^ "FHL Tide Bites". depts.washington.edu. Retrieved 2025-06-01.