Photo: Neptunes Necklace

Neptunes Necklace in the tidal pools at the Fossil Forest in Curio Bay in Otago on the South Island of New Zealand.

This small seaweed is an ideal place for smaller animals and plants to hide in to protect themselves from any predators that may be lurking. In particular, you will find lots of snails sludging along in the Neptunes Necklace at Curio Bay in Otago, New Zealand.

Neptunes Necklace, also known as "sea grapes" or "bubbleweed" looks like tiny beads linked together similar to that of a necklace. New Zealand is one of two places where Neptunes Necklace is found and this type of seaweed loves to reside in rock pools or tidal pools.

The texture of the Neptunes Necklace is slimy which lets the moisture remain inside so that they remain intact between low and high tides. They can also store gas which allows them to stand and take in more sunlight which they require to survive.

Neptunes Necklace reproduces rapidly especially at high tide when the beads squish out groups of eggs or sperm. All the plants are on the same time plan and so fertilization is always at its fullest. ... continue below the picture...

... The fronds of the Neptunes Necklace grow between 10 - 30 centimeter in length and each bead can be as round as 15 millimeters.

Many different types of seaweed grow around Otago, New Zealand but Neptunes Necklace is fairly common and not to hard to find at Curio Bay.

Neptunes Necklace, Hormosira banksii, in tidal pools at the Fossil Forest in Curio Bay, Southern Scenic Route, Catlins, Otago, East Coast, South Island, New Zealand.