Marine benthic algae new to South Africa

Abstract

Twenty species of Rhodophyta that have not previously been recorded for South Africa have been found on the coast of Natal. All but six species are new to the East African region, but have been recorded from other distant regions of the world. It is particularly noteworthy that fifteen of the twenty species were previously known to occur in Australia, six of the fifteen not having been found anywhere but in Australia before this time. An additional species, Dasyclonium incisum, has been known to occur only in Australia and New Zealand before this report. Two species, Anotrichium tenue and Wrangelia argus, are probably pan-tropical to subtropical species and a few others such as Halymenia dilatata, Sebdenia polydactyla, Symphyocladia marchantioides and Pterosiphonia spinifera may eventually be shown to belong in a similar category. Twintig Rhodophyta spesies wat nie voorheen in Suid-Afrika aangeteken is nie, is aan die Natalse kus aangetref. Veertien hiervan is nuut vir die Oos-Afrikaanse gebied, maar is bekend in ander afgeleë gebiede van die wêreld. Dit is veral betekenisvol dat vyftien van die twintig spesies voorheen reeds in Australië gevind is. Sewe van dié vyftien kom nêrens anders voor as slegs in Australië en Suid-Afrika nie en ’n addisionele spesie, Dasyclonium incisum, kom slegs in Australië en Nieu-Seeland voor, sowel as in Suid-Afrika. Twee spesies, Anotrichium tenue en Wrangelia argus, is waarskynlik pan-tropiese tot subtropiese soorte en dit mag moontlik later blyk dat ’n aantal ander, soos Halymenia dilatata, Sebdenia polydactyla, Symphyocladia marchantioides en Pterosiphonia spinifera, ook tot hierdie kategorie behoort.