Description: A non-calcareous encrusting dark red thallus up to 10 cms in diameter, the prostrate filaments give rise to short erect branched filaments united in mucilage and no more than 20 cells long.

Habitat: Common. Forms large patches on rock, shells or Laminaria holdfasts in the sublittoral in exposed places to a depth of 15 m.

Distribution: Recorded from sites scattered arround the British Isles including the Shetlands. Europe: Spain, France, the Baltic, Norway, Faroes and Iceland. Greenland. Further afield: Baffin Bay.

Similar Species: Stages in the life-cycle of Mastocarpus and Haemescheria were previously referred to as Petrocellis spp. In C. pellita the erect filaments taper from base to apex while in Petrocelis there is no much tapering.

Key Identification Features:

• Patches on the rock in the sublittoral with tapering filaments in mucilage.

Distribution Map from NBN: Cruoria pellita at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Cruoria pellita at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Cruoria pellita at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Cruoria pellita (Lyngbye) Fries, 1835. AphiaID: 145612.

Classification: Biota; Plantae; Biliphyta; Rhodophyta; Eurhodophytina; Florideophyceae; Rhodymeniophycidae; Gigartinales; Cruoriaceae; Cruoria