Brown Algae

Description:

A brown algae with a thallus (body) with multiple holes of varying sizes. The algae is said to be about 10 cm in diameter. But in the one that was washed ashore it was a loose mesh like a woolen hair net. The whole mass was compressible and soft.

Habitat:

Found on the inter-tidal zone off Western Port Bay (Balnarring Beach). They are said to grow in the tidal zone.

Notes:

It was previously misidentified as a sponge - sorry about that ! I will be forgiven if you knew that the experts describe it as "resembling a delicate sponge"
'Hydro' = water, 'Clathrus' = mesh
Brown algae come in different forms and sizes from 45 mt giants to free floating mats. The colour ranges from olive green to shades of brown caused by pigment Fucoxanthin. All brown algae are multicellular and their bodies are called Thallus as they lack stem, leaves and branches. This species forms dense mats.
More information:
http://www.sealifebase.org/summary/Hydro...
Class: Phaeophyceae