10 photos - 10 species
Caulerpa serrulata
Macro-algae or Razor/Saw-tooth
Maximum size: 30 cm
Maximum depth: 5 metres
They consist of only one cell with many nuclei,
making them one of the largest single-celled organisms in the world.
It forms extensive, large colonies.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Ceramium nitens
Red algae
Maximum size: 12 cm
Maximum depth: 15 metres
It grows on rocks or coral fragments and sometimes entangled
with other green or red macroalgae and seagrass stalks
Photo 1 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean
Dictyota humifusa
Coppejans
Maximum size: 20 - 30 cm
Maximum depth: 0 - 40 m
A fairly common brown alga that crawls over surfaces in shallow
and sheltered habitats and can take hold on almost any solid substrate.
Light brown in colour, often with bright, light blue iridescence
Photo 1 Astrid; Bonaire Caribbean
Dichotomaria marginata
Red-forking algae
Height: 2.5 - 10 cm
Depth: 0 - 12 m
White with pink to light red tinge.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Halimeda scabra
Halimeda
Maximum size: 25 cm
Maximum depth: up to 1 - 5 m
Upright growth form, hanging or spreading.
The shape of the species-specific segments can be simple, lobed,
kidney-shaped, triangular, cylindrical, roundish or triangular.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Laurencia chondrioides
Red alga
Maximum size: 7 - 20 cm
Maximum depth: 65 m
This red algae has the form of a bushy bush with a pink-orange,
pink to red colour structure during the reproductive period.
It is characterised by erect fronds consisting of a cylindrical central axis
with cylindrical branches and short branches that branch alternately and irregularly,
rarely lying on the same plane and becoming narrower towards the top
They are found on rocky soils.
Photo 1 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean
Padina pavonica
Peacock's tail
Maximum size: 2 - 20 cm
Maximum depth: 0.5 - 30 m
It is attached to stones with an adhesive organ.
The whitish-greyish-brown thallus widens into a fan-shaped lobe
with concentric white rings parallel to the upper edge,
which are caused by calcareous deposits.
Photo 1 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean
Valonia macrophysa
Sea pearl
Diameter: 0.8 - 2 cm
Depth 1 - 42 m
Dark green, shiny spheres to ovals.
Grow in dense clusters.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Valonia ventricosa
Bubble algae
Diameter: 2 - 5 cm
Depth 1 - 75 m
Dark green, shiny spheres.
Often covered with algae crusts.
Photo 1 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean
Valonia ventricosa
Bubble algae
Diameter: 1.2 - 5 cm
Depth 0 - 30 m
Surface mostly smooth, but sometimes with small lumps.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean