Corallina officinalis

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Plantae · Phylum: Rhodophyta · Class: Florideophyceae · Order: Corallinales · Family: Corallinaceae · Genus: Corallina.

Accepted name: Corallina officinalis · Authority: Linnaeus, 1758 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 145108.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Amphiroa cretacea (Postels & Ruprecht) Endlicher, 1843; Amphiroa cretacea f. rosariformis Yendo, 1902; Amphiroa cretacea f. typica Nagai, 1941; Arthrocardia cretacea (Postels & Ruprecht) Weber-van Bosse, 1904; Bossiella cretacea (Postels & Ruprecht) H.W.Johansen, 1969; Corallina anglica Ellis, 1755; Corallina calvadosii J.V.Lamouroux, 1816; Corallina compacta P.L.Crouan & H.M.Crouan, 1867; Corallina cretacea Postels & Ruprecht, 1840; Corallina nana Zanardini, 1844; Corallina officinalis f. compacta (P.L.Crouan & H.M.Crouan) Hamel & Lemoine, 1953; Corallina officinalis f. nana (Zanardini) Van Heurck, 1908; Corallina officinalis f. profunda Farlow, 1881; Corallina officinalis f. vulgaris Kützing, 1858; Corallina officinalis var. compacta (P.L.Crouan & H.M.Crouan) Batters, 1902; Corallina officinalis var. flabellifera Schiffner, 1931; Corallina officinalis var. nana (Zanardini) Ardissone, 1883; Corallina officinalis var. profunda Farlow, 1881; Corallina officinalis var. vulgaris Kützing, 1858; Pachyarthron cretaceum (Postels & Ruprecht) Manza, 1937.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=145108 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Corallina officinalis. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Habitat zone: sessile.

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 113506) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Corallina-officinalis.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

40,410 georeferenced occurrence records for Corallina officinalis are published through GBIF from 59 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 246 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 272 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (14,189); Sweden (11,141); Canada (3,031); United States of America (2,558); Ireland (2,027).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5276013) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5276013&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=145108 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

It is primarily found growing around the rims of tide pools, but can be found in shallow crevices anywhere on the rocky shore that are regularly refreshed with sea water. It predominantly grows on the lower shore, especially where fucoid algae are absent, but is also found further up shore on exposed coasts.

It forms calcium carbonate deposits within its cells which serve to strengthen the thallus. These white deposits cause the seaweed to appear pink in colour, with white patches where the calcium carbonate is particularly concentrated, such as at the growing tips. The calcium carbonate makes it unpalatable to most rocky shore grazers.

Description

The thallus of C. officinalis is firmly attached generally to rock and grows in tufts to a length of 120mm. It has articulated pinnate branching with successive opposite lateral branches. Each frond consists of cylindrical calcified stipes which show segments each a little longer than broad, rising from a crustose base like a string of beads becoming larger and more wedge-shaped higher up the stipe. In colour the fronds are pinkish, it may bleach to white when exposed to sunlight.

Reproduction

The sexes exist on separate plants and appear as small chalky nodules.

Ecology

Corallina grows on rocks in rock pools and occasionally on shells or other algae, at mid-littoral to 33m deep, it provides a habitat for many small animals which feed on the microorganisms dwelling in its dense tufts.

Distribution

C. officinalis is common, to be found on solid rock around Great Britain, Ireland and Isle of Man. Also recorded from the North Atlantic coast, from northern Norway to Morocco, and intermittently from Greenland to Argentina. Corallina is also found in USA, Argentina and elsewhere including some parts of Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand. In New Zealand this species is found on the intertidal zone of the coasts of the Kermadec Islands, the North, South, Chatham and Stewart Islands as well as the Antipodes and Auckland Islands.

Source: Wikipedia: Corallina officinalis — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corallina_officinalis (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.