User:Ryleebf/sandbox

Hydroclathrus clathratus is a species of brown alga, of the phylum Ochrophyta.

It is a yellowish-brown net-like algae that is indigenous to Hawaii, along with many other places. It is not currently known by any other name.

= Description = Porous netlike masses with a range in color from light tan or yellow to medium brown, typically 10-25 cm in diameter with a height of 3-15 cm. Generally spherical and hollow as it develops, becoming very convoluted with countless perforations of varying sizes and shapes. Typically though, these perforations are round or oval shaped holes that range in layout and can be 2 mm to 4 cm long.

= Distribution & Habitat = Typically in tropical shallow reef flats and mid- to low-depth intertidal pools. Sometimes in high intertidal pools, but can be found anywhere from 0-26 m. Frequently growing on rocks, with mixed species, or as epiphytes.

Their distribution ranges from the Atlantic Ocean: from Texas, USA to Saõ Paulo, Brazil, including Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean, east to the Mediterranean Sea and south to Angola, including Azores, Madeira, Salvage, Canary and Cape Verde Island; Indian Ocean: from the Arabian Sea, including Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, south to South Africa including Aldabra Islands, Seychelles, Madagascar, Rodrigues Island and Réunion, east to Sri Lanka; in the Bay of Bengal from Bangladesh to South Australia, including Laccadive Islands, Maldives, Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands and Diego Garcia Atoll; Pacific Ocean: from Japan to the South China Sea south to New Zealand, including Tasmania, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Fiji and Lord Howe Island, east to California, USA, including French Polynesia, Hawaiian Islands, Samoan Archipelago; south in Mexico and Chile, including Easter Island. Tropical to subtropical.

= Human Use & Cultural Significance = Mostly just used for human consumption.

= References = Photo Credit: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/69693945