CHROMOPHYTA : Scytosiphonales : ScytosiphonaceaeBROWN ALGAE

Compsonema minutum (C Agardh) Kuckuck


Description: Thallus small, as hemispherical cushions and no more than 5 cms across. Erect and short monostromatic filaments to 0.5 mm long.

Habitat: Rare. Epiphytic in the littoral.

Distribution: In the British Isles only known from the south coast of England. Europe: Mediterranean. Further afield: the Canary Islands and Indian Ocean..

Similar Species: There are other small algae appearing as spots or stain-like patches. All difficult to identify and require microscopic examination.

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

iNaturalist: Compsonema minutum at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Compsonema minutum at World Register of Marine Species.

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 Morton, O., Keatley, L., Morrow, C.C. & Picton, B.E. (2026). Compsonema minutum. (C Agardh) Kuckuck. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://habitas.org/mbdp/species.php?item=ZR2021. Accessed on 2026-11-01