<i>Hydrolithon farinosum</i> and <i>Lithophyllum epiphyticum</i> sp. nov. (Corallinaceae, Corallinales, Rhodophyta), Two Epiphytic Crustose Coralline Algae from the Abrolhos Archipelago, Brazil, Southwestern Atlantic
Manoela B. Lyra,
Ricardo G. Bahia,
Michel B. Jesionek,
Rodrigo T. Carvalho,
Fernando C. Moraes,
Adele S. Harvey,
Renato C. Pereira,
Fabiano Salgueiro,
Leonardo T. Salgado
Affiliations
Manoela B. Lyra
Research Institute of the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro, Rua Pacheco Leão, 915, Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro 22460-030, Brazil
Ricardo G. Bahia
Research Institute of the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro, Rua Pacheco Leão, 915, Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro 22460-030, Brazil
Michel B. Jesionek
Research Institute of the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro, Rua Pacheco Leão, 915, Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro 22460-030, Brazil
Rodrigo T. Carvalho
Research Institute of the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro, Rua Pacheco Leão, 915, Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro 22460-030, Brazil
Fernando C. Moraes
Research Institute of the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro, Rua Pacheco Leão, 915, Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro 22460-030, Brazil
Adele S. Harvey
Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
Renato C. Pereira
Department of Marine Biology, Institute of Biology, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24220-900, Brazil
Fabiano Salgueiro
Department of Botany, Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Av. Pasteur 458, Rio de Janeiro 22290-240, Brazil
Leonardo T. Salgado
Research Institute of the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro, Rua Pacheco Leão, 915, Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro 22460-030, Brazil
The aim of this study was to elucidate the taxonomy of the common but overlooked epiphytic coralline algae species from shallow reefs and seagrass meadows of the Abrolhos Archipelago, Brazil. Two thin (two vegetative cells thick) epiphytic coralline species were recorded: Lithophyllum epiphyticum sp. nov. and Hydrolithon farinosum. Molecular analysis from psbA genetic marker confirmed the position of L. epiphyticum into Lithophylloideae and revealed a phylogenetic relationship with an undescribed Lithophyllum from Italy. Thin thallus (2–3 cells thick) and cells lining the pore of tetrasporangial conceptacles protruding laterally occluding the canal, either partially or totally, are its main diagnostic characteristics. Hydrolithon farinosum is herein described in detail for Brazil, and its worldwide distribution is then discussed.
