Sargassum Identification Guide
Two species of sargassum are found in the Carribean: Sargassum natans and Sargassum fluitans. The photos and drawings below provide assistance in differentiating between the two.
Click on any photo to open a larger version.
Sargassum natans, left, and Sargassum fluitans, right
photo by GCRL
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| Sargassum natans Common Gulfweed photo by Phillipe Rouja |
Sargassum fluitans Broad-toothed Gulfweed photo by GCRL |
The characteristics described below are useful in differentiating between the two species. However, characteristics vary and identification of a particular sample may not be straightforward.
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| Sargassum natans | Sargassum fluitans |
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Illustrations by Julia S. Child (Schneider and Searles, 1991)