CHROMOPHYTA : Ectocarpales : PetrospongiaceaeBROWN ALGAE

Petrospongium berkeleyi (Greville) Nägeli


Description: Small hemispherical cushions up to 2 cms in diameter and 4 mm high. Consists of erect branched filaments in a mucilaginous matrix. Branching dichotomous.

Habitat: Epilithic or on Ralfsia in the littoral.

Distribution: South-western distribution in the British Isles, recorded from south-west England, south Wales, south and west Ireland and western Scotland. Europe: Portugal, Spain, France. Further afield: the Canary Islands.

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: Petrospongium berkeleyi at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Petrospongium berkeleyi at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Petrospongium berkeleyi at World Register of Marine Species.

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 Morton, O., Keatley, L., Morrow, C.C. & Picton, B.E. (2026). Petrospongium berkeleyi. (Greville) Nägeli. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://habitas.org/mbdp/species.php?item=ZR2780. Accessed on 2026-11-01