Caulerpa racemosa spread in the Mediterranean Sea: first record in the Gulf of Taranto

The occurrence of Caulerpa racemosa (Forsskal) J.Agardh (Chlorophyceae, Caulerpales) in the Gulf of Taranto near Cheradi islands, is reported. Morphological features recorded for specimens of this area, compared with those collected in other Mediterranean places, stress on the high plasticity of this "stress tolerant" species, as an adaptation to growth in unstable environmental conditions