Bottlebrush Green Seaweed

Overview

Caulerpa webbiana, commonly known as the bottlebrush green seaweed, is a distinctive marine alga characterized by its dense, fur-like appearance. It typically forms low-growing, olive to bright green clumps that spread across the seafloor.

Appearance

This species is easily recognized by its unique structure, which resembles a stiff bottlebrush. It features slender, creeping stolons covered in sand-binding rhizoids that anchor the plant to the substrate. Rising from these are upright stems, typically 4 to 6 cm long, adorned with whorls of fine, dichotomously branched filaments. These delicate, moss-like fronds can reach a total lateral spread of 12 to 20 cm, creating a dense, textured carpet.

Distribution & habitat

Bottlebrush green seaweed is widespread in tropical and warmer marine waters, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. It is commonly found in shallow, sunlit environments at depths of up to 10 meters. It thrives in a variety of habitats, ranging from coral reefs and coral rubble to sandy or muddy sediments, often appearing among seagrasses. While it is a natural component of many reef ecosystems, it has been noted as an introduced species in some regions, where it may be spread by maritime traffic.