Species profile
Oyster thief
Colpomenia sinuosa
Identify Oyster thief (Colpomenia sinuosa) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app.
At a glance
Oyster thief (Colpomenia sinuosa) is a marine alga with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 196 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, Hawaii, and Quebec the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Like its close relative, it is hollow and can become buoyant when gas builds inside.
- Found in warm-temperate and tropical coastal waters worldwide.
- Has a more sinuous, lobed shape than the rounder Colpomenia peregrina.
- Attaches to rocks, shells, and other algae in the low intertidal zone.
- Its thin walls are translucent enough to glow when held up to bright light.
Where Oyster thief are seen
Background
Colpomenia sinuosa, commonly named the oyster thief or sinuous ballweed, is a brown algae species in the genus Colpomenia. It is the type species of its genus. It is found throughout South Africa and is widespread around Australia and overseas.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Oyster thief article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other brown algae/kelps on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Oyster thief?
Oyster thief (Colpomenia sinuosa) is a marine alga with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
What is the scientific name for Oyster thief?
Oyster thief is Colpomenia sinuosa.
Are there fishing rules for Oyster thief?
Oyster thief does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.
How can I identify Oyster thief?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Oyster thief along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.