Marine Ecology: Mazzaella leptorhynchos (a local Algae)

Mazzaella leptorhynchos has a thallus 10-15 cm tall and it is about 5-10 mm wide. It appears bushy and it has a wooly look. There are many elongate papillae which are al over the branches. The color ranges to dark brown to black. It is found regularly, but the locations are irregular. There are other algaes which out compete it. It is found at lower intertidal zone but it may also be found below the mastocarpus margin, which means the outer coast is protecting it. It is found from Northern California to northern Baja. It is a corticated red algae.