<i>Crouania pumila</i> sp. nov. (Callithamniaceae: Rhodophyta), una nueva especie de alga roja marina de la Reserva Internacional de la Biosfera Seaflower, Caribe colombiano

Abstract

Abstract:Crouania pumila sp. nov. (Callithamniaceae: Rhodophyta), una nueva especie de alga roja marina de la Reserva Internacional de la Biosfera Seaflower, Caribe colombiano. In the Colombian Caribbean, the marine macroalgal flora of the Seaflower International Biosphere Reserve has been little studied, despite its ecological importance. Historical records have reported only 201 macroalgae species within its area of almost 350 000km 2 . However, recent surveys have shown a diversity of small algae previously overlooked. With the aim to determine the macroalgal diversity in the Reserve, we undertook field surveys in different ecosystems: coral reefs, seagrass beds, and rocky and sandy substrates, at different depths, from intertidal to 37m. During these field surveys, we collected a small described species belonging to the genus Crouania (Callithamniaceae, Rhodophyta), Crouania pumila sp. nov. that is decribed in this paper. This new species was distinguished from other species of the genus by a distinctive suite of traits including its diminutive size (to only 3.5mm in length), its decumbent, slightly calcified habit (epiphytic on other algae), its ramisympodial branching, the ecorticate main axes, and the elongate shape of the terminal cells of the cortical filaments. The observations were provided for both female (cystocarpic) and tetrasporangiate thalli; however, male thalli were not seen. Further studies have to be undertaken in this Reserve in order to carry out other macroalgal analysis and descriptions. Rev. Biol. Trop. 61 (3): 1015-1023. Epub 2013 September 01.

Crouania mageshimensis Itono, 1977 (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) and three other species new to the Eastern Tropical Pacific

“…To date, the only other species of the genus reported for ETP is Crouania attenuata (C.Agardh) J.Agardh recorded for the Revillagigedo Archipelago (Dawson 1962). Our specimen is easily distinguishable from C. attenuata because this latter species is greater in size, exhibits a bushy branching habit and may be lightly calcified; furthermore, thalli of C. attenuata are erect, to 5 cm high and are attached by digitate discs at the ends of multicellular rhizoids (Maggs and Hommersand 1993;Schneider 2004;Gavio et al 2013). Although no reproductive structures were observed in the present study, the alga fits well the description of the species.…”

“…There are currently nineteen species of Crouania J.Agardh, and most taxa are distributed in Australia and within the geographic region of Oceania (Guiry and Guiry 2020). Characteristics used to distinguish the species include thallus size, habit type, presence or absence of cortication on the main axis, the branching pattern and origin, the shape of terminal cortical cells, length/ diameter ratio of axial cells, and position of the tetrasporangia (Saenger and Wollaston 1982;Norris et al 1984;Wollaston and Womersley 1998;Mateo-Cid et al 2002;Schneider 2004;Gavio et al 2013).…”

The Mesophotic, Coral Reef-Associated, Marine Algal Flora of Puerto Rico, Caribbean Sea

“…The holotype specimen was from 16 m depth in Colombia (Gavio et al, 2013), and other collections were made by them at 1-2 and 37 m. *Crouanophycus latiaxis (I. A. Abbott) Athanas.…”