Habitat: Sandy or mixture of sandy and muddy substrata, mangrove prop roots, or on hard bottoms (rock and dead coral), in both wave-exposed and calm areas. From 0 to 3 meters in depth. Distribution: Europe, Atlantic Islands, North America, Central America (Belize, Costa Rica, Panama), Caribbean Islands, South America (Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela), Africa, Indian Ocean Islands, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Pacific Islands. Characteristics: Fronds feather-like with two opposite rows of cylindrical branchlets in one plane. Length of branchlets more than double their diameter, and branchlet apices not swollen. General appearance and texture delicate or fine (versus Caulerpa ashmeadii which is large and coarse), with unbranched fronds (versus Caulerpa setularioides f. longiseta that branches dichotomously 2-4 times per frond).