Habitat: Growing among coral, rocky substratum between marine pastures and on dead corals. Distribution: Florida, Bahamas, Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles, Southern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Greece, Spain, Italy, Caribbean Islands, Venezuela Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Africa, Indian Ocean, Japon, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Suroeste de Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Central Pacific Islands. Natural History Notes: Littler and Littler (2000) described three different Lobophora variegata forms: Decumbent, Crust, and Ruffled. Described here is the decumbent and Ruffled form. See pictures Depth: 2 m Characteristics: Brown to orange prostrate thallus. Blades fan shaped and overlapping; comprised of a medullary layer (1 cell thick) surrounded by a cortex (2-3 cells thick). Number of outer cortical cells may be different on two different blade surfaces. Surface hairs random or in concentric lines.