Biodiversity & Conservation

Peacocks tail - Padina pavonica

Padina pavonica

Image Steve Trewhella - Padina pavonica. Image width ca 25 cm.
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Distribution map

Padina pavonica recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

Why do the maps differ?

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  • UK_BAP
Taxonomy icon Taxonomy Taxon English term
Phylum Ochrophyta Brown and yellow-green seaweeds
Class Phaeophyceae
Authority (Linnaeus) Thivy
Recent synonyms None
Map icon Recorded Distribution in Britain and Ireland Recorded along the south coast of England including the Isle of Wight, Pembroke and south coast of Ireland.
Habitat information icon Habitat information Found in rock pools and on stones on the mid to lower shore.
Text page icon Description The frond is thin and leafy, flattish and entire when young, but often concave, or almost funnel shaped in mature specimens, with a lactiniate or irregularly lobed margin. The inner (or upper) surface is covered in a thin coating of slime, and the outer (or lower) surface is banded with zones of light brown, dark brown and olive green. Small, fine hairs form concentric lines, 3-5 mm apart, from the outer margin continuing down the outer (coloured) surface of the fronds.
Identifying features
  • Concave or almost funnel-shaped frond.
  • Frond thin with irregular lobed margin.
  • Upper surface has thin layer of slime.
  • Lower surface banded with zones of brown and green.
  • Concentric lines of small fine hairs on lower surface.
Additional information icon Additional information This species is recorded as Padina parvonia in some texts, and may also be referred to as turkey-feather algae.

This review can be cited as follows:

John Bleach 2007. Padina pavonica. Peacocks tail. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 09/09/2010]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=4011>