Coralline Allongée

Overview

Ellisolandia elongata is a calcified red alga characterized by its elegant, articulated fronds that form dense, bush-like structures. This species plays a vital role in marine ecosystems by providing essential habitats and niches for a variety of small organisms, including crustaceans, mollusks, and polychaetes.

Appearance

The thallus of this alga is typically whitish-pink to reddish-lilac, featuring a regular, fish-bone-like branching pattern. It grows from a discoid base and consists of calcified segments separated by flexible, non-calcified articulations. The fronds are repeatedly pinnate and can reach heights of up to 50 mm, with compressed axes that appear more regularly branched than those of similar species like Corallina officinalis.

Distribution & habitat

This species is found in the temperate Atlantic, ranging from the British Isles south to Mauritania, as well as throughout the Mediterranean and Black Sea. It typically inhabits wave-exposed rocky coasts, where it thrives in the lower intertidal zone and in rock pools, often growing on vertical rock surfaces or attached to mussels.