Nail Brush Seaweed (Endocladia muricata)

Description: Nail brush seaweed grows in small clumps of wiry branches that fork in two equal parts at every branching. The color can range from being almost pink to dark brown or almost black. Most often if appears dark green to brown. It often grows 4-8 cm tall.

Habitat: This seaweed grows on exposed rocks in the high intertidal zone. It ranges from Aleutian Islands, Alaska to Baja California, Mexico.

Tide Pool Tidbits:

• The nail brush seaweed quickly dries out when out of the water and easily breaks when handled or stepped on.

• Limpets are frequently found eating the nail brush seaweed.

• Living in the high intertidal zone, it is important for this algae to have a high heat tolerance since it’s exposed to the sun frequently.

References: The New Beachcomber’s Guide to the Pacific Northwest by J Duane Sept, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary