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ALEXANDRE MEINESZ

Mermaid's Wineglass

In Dive.Explo360: Mediterranean · Northeast Atlantic · Atlantic Ocean

Underwater, Mermaid's Wineglass catches the eye with its small green parasol shape standing on the seabed. This unobtrusive alga of sunlit areas contributes to oxygenating its surroundings and sometimes provides a surface for tiny marine inhabitants to attach to. Its remarkable feature: everything you can see belongs to a single cell.

Habitat de Mermaid's Wineglass Habitat
Rocky habitat
Profondeur de Mermaid's Wineglass Depth
1-20 m
Groupe biologique de Mermaid's Wineglass Group
Green alga
Rôle écologique de Mermaid's Wineglass Role
Primary producer

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Mermaid's Wineglass is a unicellular green alga whose shape resembles a small mushroom or a parasol. It consists of a long stalk attached to the substrate, topped by a circular, cup-shaped disc. Its size generally ranges from a few millimetres to a few centimetres.Although it consists of a single cell, it is highly organised. Its nucleus is located in the lower part attached to the surface and controls its entire development.

WHERE DOES IT LIVE?

It attaches to hard surfaces such as rocks, shells or calcareous debris. It is found mainly in the Mediterranean and in some temperate areas of the Atlantic.It lives in shallow, well-lit, calm water, generally along the coast, where light allows efficient photosynthesis.

WHAT DOES IT EAT?

It produces its own organic matter through photosynthesis. Using light, carbon dioxide and water, it produces energy and releases oxygen into its environment.

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DEPTH HABITAT PHYLA ECOLOGICAL ROLE

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