Turbinaria turbinata

(Linnaeus) Kuntze 1898

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: Caribbean, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela; and also seen in the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific.

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow nutrient rich intertidal zones, lagoons and backreef areas.

Aquarium Suitability: Its triangular shaped leaves have an embedded air bladder at their upper stem edge that hold its 12 inch (30 cm) high leaves/stem upright. Yet even though a somewhat interesting looking alga, its not considered an aquarium species as its difficult to maintain long term, especially so in nutrient-poor waters.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Chromista

Class: Phaeophyceae

Order: Fucales

Family: Sargassaceae

Genus: Turbinaria