Taugeh sea sausage seaweed (Neomeris) on the Shores of Singapore

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'Taugeh' seaweed
Neomeris sp.*
Family Dasycladaceae
updated Aug 10

Where seen? This curious white-and-green seaweed is commonly seen on our Southern shores. They do resemble 'Taugeh', the local name for beansprouts (from soya beans). Sometimes large clusters of the seaweed can be seen, at other times, only small scattered clusters. On small stones or coral rubble.

Features: Cluster of slender cylindrical shapes (2-3cm long) with blunt tips. The base to middle portion of the 'stem' is white and calcified while the upper ends are bright green, and often fuzzy at the tips.

Sentosa, Dec 10

The seaweed is actually made up of tiny branches packed tightly around a central stalk to form the cylindrical shape, somewhat like the bristles on a bottlebrush. The green tiny branches at the tip are younger.

According to AlgaeBase, there are 7 current Neomeris species.

Sometimes confused with green sea sausage seaweeds (Bornetella sp.) but these are completely green and don't have white stems.

Neomeris is the name of one of the 50 Greek nymphs or sea goddesses collectively called the Nereides.

Sentosa, Dec 10

'Taugeh' seaweed on Singapore shores

Tuas, Jun 05

Sentosa, Jan 06

Labrador, Dec 11

Sentosa, Apr 07

more photos of 'taugeh' seaweed on Singapore shores
northern shores
southern shores part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4

*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination of internal parts.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.

Neomeris species recorded for Singapore
Pham, M. N., H. T. W. Tan, S. Mitrovic & H. H. T. Yeo, 2011. A Checklist of the Algae of Singapore.

Neomeris annulata
Neomeris bilimbata
Neomeris dumetosa
Neomeris stipitata
Neomeris vanbosseae

Links

Neomeris on AlgaeBase: LOTS of very technical information.

References

Pham, M. N., H. T. W. Tan, S. Mitrovic & H. H. T. Yeo, 2011. A Checklist of the Algae of Singapore, 2nd Edition. Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore, Singapore. 99 pp. Uploaded 1 October 2011. [PDF, 1.58 MB].
Lim, S., P. Ng, L. Tan, & W. Y. Chin, 1994. Rhythm of the Sea: The Life and Times of Labrador Beach. Division of Biology, School of Science, Nanyang Technological University & Department of Zoology, the National University of Singapore. 160 pp.
Chou, L. M., 1998. A Guide to the Coral Reef Life of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre. 128 pages.
Huisman, John M. 2000. Marine Plants of Australia University of Western Australia Press. 300pp.
Calumpong, H. P. & Menez, E. G., 1997.Field Guide to the Common Mangroves, Seagrasses and Algae of the Philippines. Bookmark, Inc., the Philippines. 197 pp.
Trono, Gavino. C. Jr., 1997. Field Guide and Atlas of the Seaweed Resources of the Philippines.. Bookmark, Inc., the Philippines. 306 pp.

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