Derbesia marina

(Lyngbye) Solier 1846

Hair Algae

Range: Tropical & Temperate Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Natural Environment: Wide spread in the wild and usually found in nutrient rich rock pools, shallow tidal flats, and protected intertidal areas with little water movement.

Aquarium Suitability: Often simply called 'hair grass' this unwanted aquarium species has a dark green rod-like appearance, and can reach a height of 5 inches (12.5 cm).

Immediate removal of this species is highly recommended so as to keep it from spreading. (See Introduction to 'Hair-like Algae' for more specific information.)

Potential Control Species: Fish: Acanthurus achilles, Acanthurus japonicus, Acanthurus leucosternon, Acanthurus lineatus, Acanthurus olivaceus, Acanthurus pyroferus, Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis, Ctenochaetus striatus, Naso brevirostris, Naso lituratus, Zebrasoma desjardinii, Zebrasoma flavescens, Zebrasoma scopas, Zebrasoma veliferum, Zebrasoma xanthurum, Ecsenius bicolor, Ophioblennius atlanticus, Siganus corallinus, Siganus guttatus, Siganus magnifica, Siganus vulpinus, Centropyge acanthops, Centropyge argi, Centropyge aurantius, Centropyge bispinosus, Centropyge eibli, Centropyge fisheri, Centropyge flavissima, Centropyge heraldi, Centropyge loricula, Centropyge nox, Centropyge resplendens, Centropyge shepardi, Centropyge vroliki, Amblygobius hectori and Amblygobius rainfordi.

Crabs: Clibanarius tricolor and Paguristes cadenati

Sea Hares: Aplysia californica

Sea Slugs: Elysia diomedea, Elysia ornataand Tridachia crispata

Snails: Astraea tectum, Trochus niloticus, Turbo fluctuosus, Strombus alatusand Strombus gigas

Urchins: Diadema setosumand Mespilia globulus

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Chlorophyta

Class: Ulvophyceae

Order: Bryopsidales

Family: Derbesiaceae

Genus: Derbesia