First report of Sporolithon ptychoides (Sporolithales, Corallinophycidae, Rhodophyta) for the Atlantic Ocean
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2011Author
Bahia, Ricardo
Riosmena-Rodrigue, Rafael
Maneveldt, Gavin
Amado-Filho, Gilberto M.
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Show full item recordAbstract
Samples corresponding to Sporolithon ptychoides Heydrich were collected in
the mesophotic zone (50 m depth) south of Espírito Santo State, Brazil. The
collected material presented features characteristic of the species namely:
tetrasporangia of 75-105 x 40-55 μm grouped into sori that are raised above the
surrounding vegetative thallus surface; presence of a basal layer of elongate cells
in areas where the tetrasporangia develop; presence of buried tetrasporangial
compartments deep in the thallus; and 3-5 cells in the tetrasporangial
paraphyses. These same features said to collectively characterise S. ptychoides,
were all observed in a representative specimen and the type specimen of
Sporolithon dimotum (Foslie & Howe) Yamaguishi-Tomita ex M.J Wynne.
2
This latter species is thus conspecific with S. ptychoides and is therefore
considered a heterotypic synonym thereof as S. ptychoides has nomenclatural
priority. This study expands the known geographical distribution of the species
and may give insight into the origin of the species into other geographical
regions.