Dictyosphaeria spp.

Phylum: CHLOROPHYTA
Order: CLADOPHORALES
Family: Siphonocladaceae

DISTRIBUTION

Species of Dictyosphaeria are found throughout the Indo-West Pacific and the tropical west Atlantic.

PHOTO

Dictyosphaeria cavernosa. Oyster Bay, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 25 Feb 1978 . Lower photo shows the sacoglossan Ercolania coerulea, approx 9 mm long, nestled on the alga. Photos: Bill Rudman.

Plants are firm to touch and are hollow and spherical when young, but are often ridged, irregular and ruptured when old. Often clustered together to form extensive mats on rocks and other hard surfaces. The surface cells are easily seen, growing up to 3mm in diameter, and looking like a cluster of small green bubbles. In the Indo-West Pacific it is the preferred food of Ercolania coerulea.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2005 (March 11) Dictyosphaeria spp.. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/dictyosphaeria