About Corallina vancouveriensis Yendo, 1902
Corallina vancouveriensis is a branching, calcareous alga that resembles coral. Its color ranges from light pink to purple, but it will bleach white if exposed to the air for long periods of time. Upright pinnate branches grow from a tightly packed base. This species occurs along the west coast of North America from Mexico to Alaska, and extends through the Aleutian Islands. It is also found in the Galápagos Islands and Japan. It grows in mid to low intertidal zones and tidepools. It can spread opportunistically into newly cleared spaces on rock surfaces. Research has found that sea urchins are attracted to C. vancouveriensis, and the alga helps protect juvenile urchins from predatory crabs.
