CHROMOPHYTA : Ectocarpales : ChordariaceaeBROWN ALGAE

Chilionema hispanicum (Sauvageau) Fletcher


Description: Appearing as small spots on another alga 5 mm or more in diameter, may become united with others and up to several cms across. Grows as a monostromatic base with erect filaments several cells long and unbranched.

Habitat: Rare. Generally epiphytic on Saccorhiza or Lanimaria, possibly elsewhere also.

Distribution: A few records from the west of Ireland and from Dorset on the south of England. Europe: Spain and France.

Similar Species: There are other small spots or stain-like patches epiphytic on algae. All difficult to identify and require a microscope.

Distribution Map from NBN: Chilionema hispanicum at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Chilionema hispanicum at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Chilionema hispanicum at World Register of Marine Species.

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 Morton, O., Keatley, L., Morrow, C.C. & Picton, B.E. (2026). Chilionema hispanicum. (Sauvageau) Fletcher. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://habitas.org/mbdp/species.php?item=ZR1940. Accessed on 2026-11-01