Caulerpa cactoides is a green seaweed that belongs to the family Caulerpaceae. Caulerpa species grow from a horizontal stolon and can spread quickly over large areas of substrate. Caulerpa species can become extremely dominant in reef and sand habitats around the southern waters of Australia, in terms of the numbers of species and the abundance.
Caulerpa cactoides can be found in sheltered estuaries and coastal bays growing on sand, reef and silty terrain. It occurs around the southern half of Australia, from Geraldton in Western Australia around to the Richmond River in Northern NSW. It can also be found in the waters of northern Tasmania. It has club shaped ramuli (branches), which are generally bright green in colour. This species has been observed to fluctuate in abundance, most likely as a result of changing water temperatures. In Port Stephens - NSW it has been observed growing rapidly during summer/autumn when the water is warm and then declining in winter when the water becomes cooler.
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