Morphology data of Halimeda opuntia
Identification keys
Main Ref. Trono, G.C. Jr., 2001
Appearance refers to

Sex attributes

specialized organs
different appearance
different colors
remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Diagnosis Thalli form greenish to cream amorphous clumps, attached by rhizoids at various points where segments get in contact with the substrate. Branches composed of moderately calcified flat segments with a distinct central rib, generally reniform to flabellate with the upper margin entire, sinuate to deeply lobed, 3 to 8 mm high, 4 to 10 mm wide, and 0.5 to 7 mm thick. Cortex consisting of 5 layers of utricles formed by repeated dichotomies from the medullary filaments; outermost utricles adhere slightly after decalcification, hexagonal in surface view, 23 by 40 to 50 μm in transverse section; secondary utricles about 17 μm wide. Central medullary filaments extend along the segments, terete and trichotomously branched, with evident constrictions at a short distance above the point of branching. Amorphous clumps up to 15 cm in diameter (Ref. 80758).
Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Halimeda opuntia

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total
Soft-rays total
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
spines     
soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
spines     
soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary (e.g. cnidaria)
Comments & Corrections
Back to Search