Systematic survey of Lithothamnion, Melobesia and Mesophyllum species (Hapalidiaceae, Corallinales, Rhodophyta) recorded along the Atlantic coast of Mexico

Abstract

Family Hapalidiaceae is represented in the Atlantic coast of Mexico by three genera and five species. Lithothamnion sejunctum is a new record for Mexico and represents the third record since it was first described and L. crispatum is recorded for the first time for North America Continent. L. crispatum and L. occidentale are developing as maerl in the subtidal zone to 50 m depth. Melobesia membranacea has the widest distribution interval in the study area. Mesophyllum mesomorphum is a species which it has few records in the study area. Detailed accounts are provided for each species along with information on synonymy, collections examined, distribution, and habitat. Qualitative characters associated with tetrasporangial / bisporangial conceptacle roof morphology and anatomy have provided a reliable basis for delimiting the Atlantic Mexican species of Hapalidiaceae.

Aragonite infill in overgrown conceptacles of coralline Lithothamnion spp. (Hapalidiaceae, Hapalidiales, Rhodophyta): new insights in biomineralization and phylomineralogy

“…, Mateo‐Cid et al. ). However, the type specimen of L. occidentale needs to be carefully examined before this species epithet can be assigned with confidence to the material examined.…”

Molecular and Morphological Diversity of Lithothamnion spp. (Hapalidiales, Rhodophyta) from Deepwater Rhodolith Beds in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico

“…2) as L. crispatum, may correspond to Lithothamnion sp. F (LAF6882), considering this specimen was collected at the same time and collecting cruise location (from 50m in the SWGMx near the Campeche Banks, Mexico) as the samples presented in Mateo-Cid et al (2014b). The psbA sequence of a specimen collected in the Mediterranean Sea, Spain, identified as L. cf.…”