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A second red algae Gloiotrichus species discovered in the Caribbean

6a01156e4c2c3d970c019b02cf6e5b970cFrom Plant Press Vol. 16 no. 4, October 2013

A most unusual genus of red algae, Gloiotrichus (Liagoraceae, Rhodophyta),previously known only from Australia and later Hawaii, has been found for the first time in the Caribbean Sea.

Katina Bucher, James Norris, and James Sears describe a second known species, Gloiotrichus vermiculatus, based on specimens collected from subtidal waters from Belize and the U.S. Virgin Islands  (Caribbean Journal of Science 47: 98-113; 2013). Gloiotrichus vermiculatus differs from the first species, G. fractalis, in female reproductive morphology and development.

While Norris’ group has molecular analyses on the Belize species, the first species has never been re-collected in Australia. It is hopeful that someday they can test the new species relationship to type material.

For more on this story go to:

http://nmnh.typepad.com/the_plant_press/2013/12/a-second-red-algae-gloiotrichus-species-discovered-in-the-caribbean.html

 

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