Floating Sargassum (Sargassum natans)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Sargassum natans
- Common name
- Floating Sargassum
- Category
- Algae
- Family
- Sargassaceae
- Genus
- Sargassum
- Size
- 10–30 cm
- Depth
- 0–5 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- seagrass-meadow
- Behaviours
- pelagic, drifting
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Eastern Pacific, Macaronesia, Mediterranean
Description
Sargassum natans reaches 30 cm floating. Unique pelagic brown alga, forms massive floating mats in the Sargasso Sea (North Atlantic). Entirely pelagic, never attached. Spherical pneumatocysts enable flotation. Critical habitat for fish larvae, shrimp, sea turtles. Recent problematic accumulation (brown tides), linked to climate change. Least threatened globally = LC. Emblematic Atlantic Ocean species.
Photo of Floating Sargassum
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Floating Sargassum?
- Floating Sargassum (Sargassum natans) reaches 10–30 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Floating Sargassum?
- Floating Sargassum is found between 0–5 m deep.
- Is the Floating Sargassum dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Floating Sargassum?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Floating Sargassum?
- Found in: Caribbean, Eastern Pacific, Macaronesia, Mediterranean.
Other species in the genus Sargassum
- Sargassum vulgare - Common sargassum
- Sargassum fluitans - Gulf Sargassum
- Sargassum muticum - Japanese Wireweed
- Sargassum horneri - Horner's Sargassum
- Sargassum filipendula - Filmy Sargassum
Other species in the family Sargassaceae
- Cystoseira amentacea - Mediterranean cystoseira
- Turbinaria ornata - Ornate Turbinaria
- Turbinaria conoides - Conical Turbinaria
- Cystoseira brachycarpa - Short-fruited Cystoseira
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 145560)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 3196812)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia