Turkish Washcloth (Mastocarpus papillatus)

Description: Turkish washcloth is a type of red algae. Its name is similar to another type of red algae, Turkish towel, but the two are different species. To tell these two species apart, look at their blades: the blades of Turkish washcloth are thinner than those of the Turkish towel. This kind of algae has two forms: a crustose form and a foliose form, which means one encrusts on rocks and the other has actual blades. The blades of the foliose form have little bumps on them that resemble a washcloth, giving this species its name.

Habitat: Turkish washcloth is found in abundance in the intertidal zone, especially in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. In the eastern Pacific Ocean, it ranges from Alaska’s Aleutian Islands to Baja California, Mexico. In the western Pacific Ocean, it is found along Russian and Japanese coastlines. 

Tide Pool Tidbits:

• Previously in history, scientists used to think that the crustose form of Turkish washcloth was a separate genus from the foliose form. The crustose form had the common name “tar spot seaweed” until DNA analysis revealed that the two forms had the same genetic material.

• Turkish washcloth gets its species name papillatus from the little bumps on its blades, which are actually called “papillae.”

Reference: Central Coast Biodiversity