Udotea flabellum

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Plantae · Phylum: Chlorophyta · Class: Ulvophyceae · Order: Bryopsidales · Family: Halimedaceae · Genus: Udotea.

Accepted name: Udotea flabellum · Authority: (J.Ellis & Solander) M.Howe, 1904 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 211535.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Corallina flabellum J.Ellis & Solander, 1786; Udotea flabellata J.V.Lamououx, 1816; Udotea halimeda Kützing, 1849.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=211535 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

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

Depth range: 0–15 m · Habitat zone: benthic.

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 113817) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Udotea-flabellum.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

1,999 georeferenced occurrence records for Udotea flabellum are published through GBIF from 49 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 258 distinct locations from a sample of 1,999 records, omitting 80 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 States of America (398); Australia (275); Brazil (205); Puerto Rico (175); Mexico (170).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2643426) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2643426&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=211535 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Udotea flabellum is a green macroalgae. It attaches to the ground and has a thallus which grows in a fan shape, hence its nickname—mermaid's fan algae. The algae attaches to sand or mud with a system of rhizoids, root-like structures that form a hold fast.

It lacks a stem, leaves, roots and a vascular system, but does have a stem-like feature called a stipe. The thallus is often lobed, and the lobes are thick, leathery, and moderately calcified. The stipe is also often calcified.

Distribution and ecology

Species of the Udotea genus are found in tropical to subtropical locations. U. flabellum is found in waters of North America, the Atlantic islands, Mexico, the Caribbean, South America, the Indian Ocean, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Asia. These algae are often found in coral reefs.

They also grow on sandy coastlines and in sea grass beds. They can be found in depths of up to 23 meters. Since their thallus and stipe are calcified, when U. flabellum dies, it improves sediment nutrients and contributes to sediment production, which can help the reefs in the area to continue growing.

Algae such as U. flabellum are also the base of reef food webs. The photosynthetic plants contribute to primary production, which is the synthesis of organic compounds, mainly carbohydrates in algae, from carbon dioxide. U. flabellum provides a food source for marine herbivores.

Research

In one in vitro study, an extract of Udotea flabellum was found to be most effective out of a number of tropical green seaweeds tested, in increasing plasma coagulation time.

An extract of U. flabellum in ethanol has shown modest antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans in one in vitro experiment. The researchers isolated the hydrates of a novel compound, which they named udoteatrial, from the algae extract, which they believed to be responsible the antimicrobial activity.

Source: Wikipedia: Udotea flabellum — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udotea_flabellum (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.