Description: Very small tufts growing to several mm in diameter to form a gall-like swelling in the host alga. Partially endophytic.

Habitat: Very rare. Parasitic in Cystoseira tamariscifolia.

Distribution: British Isles including the Scilly Isles and the Channel Isles. Europe: Mediterranean, Portugal, Atlantic coasts of Spain and France, Netherlands, Germany, Norway and Faroes.

Similar Species: Many other small tufted algae are similar, all require microscopic examination for identification.

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

iNaturalist: Herponema valiantei at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Herponema valiantei at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Herponema valiantei (Bornet ex Sauvageau) G.Hamel, 1939. AphiaID: 145427.

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