Green Grape Alga

Green Grape Alga
Name: Green Grape Alga
Scientific Name: Caulerpa racemosa
Family: Green Algae
Taxonomic: Chlorophyta
ID Group: Corals, Algae
Size: 1 - 6 in.
Depth Range: In shallow waters (0 – 15 ft.)
Sightings: Seen sometimes

The Green Grape Alga forms clusters of small, round spheres that resemble bunches of grapes. This alga is typically light to medium green, though it can sometimes have bluish tones. The spheres are translucent and have a glossy texture. These clusters can vary in density, from loosely packed to tightly bunched, and are connected by thin, green stems that spread horizontally.

The Green Grape Alga is a species of seaweed that grows in shallow sandy areas, but can also be found on reef patches in moderately deeper water. Like other algae, it produces its own food through photosynthesis. Its reproduction is notably unique; it can reproduce both by spawning and by fragmentation, where a small piece can break off and grow into a new individual.