Codium cranwelliae

Codium cranwelliae is a subtidal seaweed in the family Codiaceae. The green algae is endemic to New Zealand, primary found on the northeastern coast of the North Island.

Codium cranwelliae
Codium cranwelliae found at North Cape, New Zealand
Conservation status
Naturally Uncommon (NZ TCS)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Chlorophyta
Class:	Ulvophyceae
Order:	Bryopsidales
Family:	Codiaceae
Genus:	Codium
Species:	C. cranwelliae
Binomial name
Codium cranwelliae Setch.

Taxonomy and naming

Specimen from the collections of Auckland War Memorial Museum

The species was first formally described in 1940 by William Albert Setchell, based on specimens collected by botanist Lucy Cranwell from the Poor Knights Islands in February 1937.^[2][3][4] Setchell named the species after Cranwell.^[5]

Description

C. cranwelliae has a light green colour, and distinctive oval branching utricles attached to a narrow base. These utricles can be up to 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long.^[3][2]

Habitat and range

The species is endemic to New Zealand,^[6] found in subtidal coastal areas. It has been found as far south at the Mahia Peninsula.^[7]