Mueller’s Forkweed

Dictyopteris muelleri

Sea Life Native IUCN: Not Evaluated

About

This is a common species around the area and can be found on most rocky reefs and around Tomahawk Island. It is also commonly washed up along Tomahawk Beach

Identification

A light brownish coloured alga with a flattened central stipe and a distinctive darker colour mid rib the branches are flattend arising in an almost equal divisions (forked) from the main stalk on one plane. Often distinctly spotted all over with clusters of reproductive structures (sori) and tiny hair tufts on surface. Holdfast is matted and rhizoidal

Size

Can grow to an overall length of around 40cm

Habitat

Can be found growing on rocky reefs out to a depth of around 37m and can also be found in intertidal rock pools

Distribution

Australia coastal waters including around Tasmania and can also be found in Indonesia and India

Local Sightings

1 recorded sighting in and around the area.

References & citations (3)
  1. Pocklington, Jacqui, 2011, Brown Seaweed, Dictyopteris muelleri, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria (accessed 2023-01-05 09:11:58)
  2. The Atlas of Living Australia (accessed 2023-01-05 09:13:33)
  3. M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 17 January 2020. AlgaeBase (accessed 2023-01-05 09:29:27)

Header image: (CC BY-NC 4.0) © Wayne Martin

Disclaimer: A lot of work goes into making sure identifications, descriptions, sizes, habitats and distribution details are as accurate as possible — but this information is ever-changing, so no guarantee is offered that it is correct or currently valid. Treat it as a guide and do a little of your own research for the latest word. Feedback and corrections are always welcome.