Kapraunia silviae (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta), a new species from the South Atlantic Ocean

Abstract Kapraunia is a genus recently segregated from Polysiphonia sensu lato , with only four species so far known. However, no species have been found on the South Atlantic coast. Recent collections in southwestern Brazil revealed specimens morphologically similar to Kapraunia spp. To investigate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Botanica Marina
Main Authors: Brito, Jhullyrson O.F. de, Cassano, Valéria
Other Authors: São Paulo Research Foundation, FAPESP, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) – Finance Code 001 and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, CNPq
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Walter de Gruyter GmbH 2024
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Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/bot-2023-0101
https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/bot-2023-0101/xml
https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/bot-2023-0101/pdf
Description
Summary:Abstract Kapraunia is a genus recently segregated from Polysiphonia sensu lato , with only four species so far known. However, no species have been found on the South Atlantic coast. Recent collections in southwestern Brazil revealed specimens morphologically similar to Kapraunia spp. To investigate the identity of these specimens, we carried out a morphological and molecular study based on COI-5P and rbc L sequences. Phylogenetic analysis placed our samples within the genus Kapraunia as a new species with full support, described here as Kapraunia silviae sp. nov. K. silviae is recognizable by a combination of characters such as attachment by a basal disc and a prostrate system, branches developing laterally to the trichoblasts, 5–6 pericentral cells, rarely 4. The species differs from K. pentamera by the attachment form, segment proportions and tetrasporangial dimensions, and from K. schneideri by the number of pericentral cells, branch development and tetrasporangial arrangement. Re-examination of herbarium samples from Brazil in older collections also revealed misidentifications of K. silviae as “ Carradoriella denudata ”. This new species seems to be restricted to the Brazilian coast, being found only on the northern coast of São Paulo state. Our results reinforce the need for revision of Polysiphonia s.l. species on the Brazilian coast.