Metapeyssonnelia corallepida sp. nov. (Peyssonneliaceae, Rhodophyta), an Atlantic Encrusting Red Alga Overgrowing Corals

Abstract

Metapeyssonnelia corallepida sp. nov. from Florida and Belize is described. The species was collected overgrowing dead and living corals of the genera Millepora and Porites . It differs from the only previously described species of this genus, Metapeyssonnelia feldmannii , by its calcification, which is limited to the hypobasal layer, more or less well developed groups of cystoliths, the presence of conspicuous hairs, and an overall larger cell size. The discovery of tetrasporangial plants bearing nemathecia confirms that Metapeyssonnelia is a member of the Peyssonneliaceae.