Sargassum johnsonii leaves. Sargassum johnsonii Sargassum johnsonii Chapman, 1961, is a brown seaweed of the genus "Sargassum" that is endemic to the Three Kings Islands in New Zealand. It is sometimes called totara weed because of the resemblance to the foliage of the NZ native tree totara. Its scientific name derives from its discoverer, Magnus Earle Johnson, Three Kings Islands explorer and captain of the yacht "Rosemary", who landed botanists on the islands on several occasions. "Sargassum johnsonii" grows in rocky intertidal habitats, often extending to the subtidal zone up to a depth of 40 m. It is a foundation species, and
Sargassum parts of their development, but also as a permanent residence for endemic species that can only be found living on and within the Sargassum . These endemic organisms have specialized patterns and colorations that mimic the Sargassum and allow them to be impressively camouflaged in their environment. In total, these Sargassum mats are home to more than 11 phyla and over 100 different species . There is also a total of 81 fish species (36 families represented) that reside in the Sargassum or utilize it for parts of their life cycles . Other marine organisms, such as young sea turtles,