Main Ref.	Trono, G.C. Jr., 2001
Appearance refers to

Sex attributes

specialized organs
different appearance
different colors
remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Diagnosis	Thalli form wiry mats or clumps attached by rhizoids arising from creeping stolons. Colour yellow-brown to greenish brown when inhabiting tidepools or upper intertidal areas with clear and shallow water, and reddish to purple in shaded upper subtidal and lower intertidal areas. Branches erect, decumbent or prostrate, composed of a terete to compressed central axis and pinnately arranged, filiform lateral branchlets (ramuli) which are upcurved and acuminate, 1 to 6 mm long, and generally decrease in length towards the distal portion of the axes. Few lateral branchlets may develop that give rise to second degree ramuli. In fertile plants, swollen stichidia are formed at the apices of the lateral branchlets. Branches up to 9 cm in length (Ref. 80758).
Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Gelidiella acerosa

Lateral Lines	Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No.	Dorsal
	Ventral
Spines total
Soft-rays total
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral	Attributes
	spines
	soft-rays
Pelvics	Attributes
	Position
	spines
	soft-rays