CHLOROPHYTA : Ulotrichales : UlotrichaceaeGREEN ALGAE

Spongomorpha aeruginosa (Linnaeus) van den Hoek


Description: Thallus of densely branched filaments up to a maximum of 5 cms long, some branches are recurved, twisted and pale in colour and bind the filaments into a spongy mass.

Habitat: Generally common. Epiphytic on other algae in the lower littoral and sublittoral to a depth of several metres.

Distribution: Widespread in the British Isles. Europe: Spain, France, Netherlands, Baltic, Norway, Faroes, Finland and Iceland. Greenland. Atlantic coast of North America: Canada, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Long Island and New Jersey. Further afield: Pacific coast of North America.

Similar Species: Acrosiphonia arcta.

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

iNaturalist: Spongomorpha aeruginosa at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Spongomorpha aeruginosa at World Register of Marine Species.

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 Morton, O., Keatley, L., Morrow, C.C. & Picton, B.E. (2026). Spongomorpha aeruginosa. (Linnaeus) van den Hoek. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://habitas.org/mbdp/species.php?item=ZS3160. Accessed on 2026-11-01