STAUROMEDUSAE UK

An online guide to the Stalked jellyfish (Stauromedusae) found
around the coastal waters of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Includes notes on their identification, and where and how to find them.

A-P-H-O-T-O Wildlife Stock Image Library
Ceramium virgatum Roth, 1797 - Hornweed
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Hornweed
Ceramium virgatum
- lowershore on Fucus serratus 1

Hornweed
Ceramium virgatum
- lowershore on Fucus serratus 2

Images taken on the lowershore at Porthpean near St. Austell, Cornwall. 01.04.10. Species epiphytic on Fucus serratus and other seaweeds.

Ceramium is an important algae for stauromedusae and many species take advantage of it, these include Haliclystus octoradiatus, Craterolophus convolvulus, Calvadosia campanulata and Calvadosia cruxmelitensis.

Gosse in his book "The Aquarium", written in 1854, states finding Lucernaria (stalked jellyfish) on Ceramium rubrum, now Ceramium virgatum, found epithitically on Fucus serratus. Old texts often refer to the finding of stalked jellyfish on Fucus; however red species of algae that grow epiphytically on species like Fucus serratus may be more important for a wide variety stalked jellyfish.

Scientific and other names:
Ceramium virgatum, Ceramium rubrum auctorum, Ceramium nodulosum, Hornweed, Red hornweed.

Stauromedusae Ceramium virgatum red seaweed images uk