Taxonomy of rhodolith-forming species of Lithophyllum (Corallinales; Rhodophyta) from Espírito Santo State, Brazil

Abstract

The taxonomy of the rhodolith-forming species of Lithophyllum (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) found from Espirito Santo State, Brazil, were evaluated based on extensive subtidal sampling. A comparative analysis of the Brazilian material with recently described species lead us to conclude that three known species (Lithophyllum corallinae, L. johansenii, L. stictaeforme) and one species new to science (Lithophyllum espiritosantense Villas-Boas, Figueiredo et Riosmena-Rodriguez) are present in the area. All four species can be distinguished primarily by their tetrasporangial conceptacle roof anatomy. This study has shown that Brazilian rhodolith beds are comparatively more diverse in number of Lithophyllum species than other areas of the world.