Dictyota cyanoloma Tronholm, De Clerck, Gómez Garreta & Rull Lluch
Dictyota cyanoloma is an unusual seaweed, a brown alga that appears blue when living underwater (the name ‘cyanoloma’ means ‘blue fringe’). The species was originally described from Spain and thought to be restricted to the Mediterranean and northeast Atlantic, but has since been recorded from numerous localities, including southern Australia and the Perth region. The species is often found in harbours, suggesting that it might be introduced, however, recent molecular analyses indicate that the species is native to Australia and introduced in Europe. Nevertheless, the species does appear to be proliferating and is common in the Swan Estuary, where this photo was taken.
Photo: John Huisman.
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