Thong weed (Himanthalia elongata)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, occurrence map from GBIF.
Distribution map plotted from GBIF.org occurrence records; basemap Natural Earth 110m · GBIF records CC0 / CC BY; Natural Earth public domain
Thong weed (Himanthalia elongata) is a marine species in the family Himanthaliaceae (Ochrophyta › Phaeophyceae › Fucales), recorded in the World Register of Marine Species as Himanthalia elongata (Linnaeus) S.F.Gray, 1821 under AphiaID 145551.
- Scientific name
- Himanthalia elongata
- Authority
- (Linnaeus) S.F.Gray, 1821
- Family
- Himanthaliaceae
- Order
- Fucales
- Habitat zone
- sessile
- Gbif occurrence records
- 12,594
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Chromista · Phylum: Ochrophyta · Class: Phaeophyceae · Order: Fucales · Family: Himanthaliaceae · Genus: Himanthalia.
Accepted name: Himanthalia elongata · Authority: (Linnaeus) S.F.Gray, 1821 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 145551.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Fucus elongatus Linnaeus, 1753; Fucus loreus Linnaeus, 1767; Fucus pruniformis Gunnerus, 1772; Funicularius tuberculatus Roussel, 1806; Himanthalia elongata var. ß inequalis S.F.Gray, 1821; Himanthalia lorea (Linnaeus) Lyngbye, 1819; Ulva tomentosa (Hudson) De Candolle, 1805.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=145551 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)
Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Himanthalia elongata. 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 120977) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Himanthalia-elongata.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
12,594 georeferenced occurrence records for Himanthalia elongata are published through GBIF from 19 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 141 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 127 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 (4,346); France (2,841); Netherlands (1,604); Ireland (1,208); Belgium (805).
The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 3197836) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=3197836&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=145551 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.
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