Description: Small tufts to 3 cms long, uniseriate filaments branching irregularly alternate. All branches terminating in a hair.

Habitat: Uncommon.

Distribution: A few scattered records in the British Isles including the Shetlands. Europe: France, Netherlands, the Baltic, Norway, Jan Mayen and Bjornoya and Iceland. Greenland. Atlantic coast of North America: Canada. Further afield: Spitzbergen.

Similar Species: Many fine filamentous brown algae are similar and require microscopic examination for identification.

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

iNaturalist: Hincksia ovata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Hincksia ovata at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Hincksia ovata (Kjellman) P.C.Silva, 1987. AphiaID: 145438.

Classification: Biota; Chromista; Harosa; Heterokonta; Ochrophyta; Phaeophyceae; Fucophycidae; Ectocarpales; Acinetosporaceae; Hincksia