{{Taxobox
| name = ''Durvillaea antarctica''
| image = Durvillea_Stipe.jpg
| image_width = 270px
| image_caption = ''''Durvillaea antarctica'' stipes on Second Bay, Otago, New Zealand''
| domain = Eukaryota
| regnum = Chromalveolata
| phylum = Heterokontophyta
| classis = Phaeophyceae
| ordo = Durvillaeales
| familia = Durvillaeaceae
| genus = ''Durvillaea''
| species = ''antarctica''
| binomial = ''Durvillaea antarctica'' 
}}

thumb|right|200px|''Durvillea antarctica''. Washed up on [[Sandfly Bay, Otago, New Zealand]]

''Durvillaea antarctica'' is the dominant algae on the southern New Zealand and Chile. ''D. antarctica'' is found in exposed shores. The holdfast of ''D. antarctica'' is large and is very difficult to remove. ''D. antarctica'' has to resit forces equivalent to 1100 km/h on land <ref name="The Living Reef"></ref>. The blades are golden brown with a leathery texture. ''D. antarctica'' does not have air bladders. ''D. antarctica'' achieves flotation by a honeycomb structure within the alga's blades. This honeycomb structure helps the kelp from sustaining mechanical damage when being exposes to oscillatory wave motion. This novel structure is thought to be responsible for the wide distribution of this genus. The kelp is able to float when the holdfast fails. It is possible that the algae can colonise other coastlines in this manner <ref name="The Living Reef"></ref>. The holdfast failing is usually the result of worms and molluscs which feed on the tissue because of the sheltered habitat it creates <ref name="Between the Tides"></ref>. Recruitment rates of this species is very low, therefore the ecological impact of harvesting this species is too great <ref name="Between the Tides"></ref>. 

==Morphology==

''Durvillaea antarctica'' is characterised by the honeycomb structure of the blade.

==Life Cycle==

''Durvillaea antarctica'' reproduces sexually by producing egg and sperm that are released into the water. Eggs and sperm are produced on specific sites of the frond. A large individual can produce 100 million eggs in twelve hours (Bradstock, 1989). The season when reproduction occurs varies with location.

Les '''durvilléas''' ou durvillées (''Durvillaea antarctica'') sont des algues brunes géantes des régions sub-antarctiques. 

Leur nom rend hommage à l'explorateur français Jules Dumont d'Urville (1790-1842).

==Description==
Les thalles comprennent depuis la base : un crampon par lequel l'algue est fixée aux rochers, un stipe cylindrique, une lame palmée divisée en lanières plus ou moins nombreuses. La forme générale rappelle celle d'une laminaire digitée (''Laminaria digitata''). Les durvilléas peuvent dépasser 10&nbsp;m de longueur. La surface est épaisse et coriace, elle a l'aspect et la consistance du cuir. A l'intérieur, l'algue développe une structure alvéolaire, qui lui permet de flotter. En grossissant, les bases de thalles voisins peuvent fusionner en un seul crampon collectif.

Les durvilléas sont fixées au niveau des plus basses marées et sont donc rarement exondées. Les lanières flottent en permanence à la surface de l'eau et peuvent ainsi former des ceintures continues le long du littoral. Les durvilléas ont besoin d'une eau brassée en permanence : on ne les rencontre donc que sur les côtes battues, où le ressac est important et où le marnage est peu marqué. Plus l'agitation est intense, plus les lanières sont nombreuses, fines et longues. 