Mimica – Species Splash

When you’re in the KalokaLike competition and your opponent is Mimica.

The genus Mimica was named for the ability of its type species, Mimica arnoldii, to mimic soft and hard corals. The exact reason for this mimicry remains unknown, but it has been thought that Mimica does this to avoid being eaten by herbivorous fish that prefer seaweed as food. This adaptation helps them survive and thrive in coral reef ecosystems. Interestingly, it’s not just herbivorous fish that utilize them for food—humans do too. Mimica produces carrageenan, a substance that forms a gel when combined with water. Carrageenan is commonly used in food products as a thickening, stabilizing, and gelling agent.

In 2020, Mimica was described by Filipino seaweed taxonomist and UP MSI Assistant Professor Dr. Wilfred John Santiañez, together with Dr. Michael J. Wynne of the University of Michigan Herbarium. It was previously classified under the red seaweed genus Eucheuma, also known as sea moss or locally called gusó, but thanks to recent advancements in molecular studies, Mimica has been recognized as a new, distinct genus.

Link to full paper.
Link to Mimica on the World Register of Marine Species.
Link to Marine Phycology Laboratory’s post on Mimica.