| Class: |
Ulvophyceae (ex Bryopsidophyceae) |
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Description: |
Caulerpa mexicana consists of erect fronds with flattened branchlets arising from a creeping stolon with rhizoidal branches attaching it to the substrate. Fronds 15-25cm in height, branchlets 2-4mm in width. Color generally grass-green. Midrib of frond is flat with branchlets oppositely arranged along its axis, branchlets slightly overlapping and pointed upwards with a general feather-like appearance. Similar in structure to C. taxifolia which has a compressed midrib and branchlets that become constricted at the base.  Download PDF from Algaebase
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| Name History |
Adjective A (Latin), pertaining to Mexico (Stearn 1992). |
| Biogeography |
Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Western Tropical Atlantic. |
| References |
Dawes, C.J. & Mathieson, A.C. (2008). The seaweeds of Florida. pp. [i]- viii, [1]-591, [592], pls I-LI. Gainesville, Florida: University Press of Florida. Famá, P., Wysor, B., Kooistra, W.H.C.F. & Zuccarello, G.C. (2002). Molecular phylogeny of the genus Caulerpa (Caulerpales, Chlorophyta) inferred from chloroplast tufA gene. Journal of Phycology 38: 1040-1050. Hodgson, L.M. Pham Huu Tri, Lewmanomont, K. & McDermid, K.J. (2004). Annotated checklist of species of Caulerpa and Caulerpella (Bryopsidales, Caulerpaceae) from Vietnam, Thailand and the Hawaiian Islands. In: Taxonomy of Economic Seaweeds with reference to the Pacific and other locations Volume IX. (Abbott, I.A. & McDermid, K.J. Eds) Vol.9, pp. 21-38. Olsen, J.L., Valero, M., Meusnier, I., Boele-Bos, S. & Stam, W.T. (1998). Mediterranean Caulerpa taxifolia and C. mexicana (Chlorophyta) are not conspecific. Journal of Phycology 34: 850-856, 2 figs, 2 tables. Pedroche, F.F., Silva, P.C., Aguilar-Rosas, L.E., Dreckmann, K.M. & Aguilar-Rosas, R. (2005). Catálogo de las algas marinas bentónicas del Pacífico de México. I. Chlorophycota. pp. i-viii, 17-146. Ensenada, México: Universidad Autónoma de Baja California. Silva, P.C., Basson, P.W. & Moe, R.L. (1996). Catalogue of the benthic marine algae of the Indian Ocean. University of California Publications in Botany 79: 1-1259. Stam, W.T., Olsen, J.L., Zaleski, S.F., Murray, S.N., Brown, K.R. & Walters, L.J. (2006). A forensic and phylogenetic survey of Caulerpa species (Caulerpales, Chlorophyta) from the Florida coast, local aquarium shops, and e-commerce: establishing a proactive baseline for early detection. Journal of Phycology 42: 1113-1124. |
| Habitat: |
Commonly found in lagoons, seagrass beds, mangrove fringes, and shallow soft sediments. Also commonly found growing on rocks, pebbles, coral heads, and other hard substrata in reef communities. |
| Type information: |
Type locality: Atlantic Coast of Mexico (Lipkin & Silva 2002: 63). Type: L (de Bolós & Masclans 1955: 63). |
