DNA-assisted identification of Caulerpa (Caulerpaceae, Chlorophyta) reduces species richness estimates for the Eastern Tropical Pacific Author Fernández-García, Cindy Escuela de Biología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR), Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José, 11501 - 2060, Costa Rica. Author Wysor, Brian Department of Biology, Marine Biology & Environmental Science, Roger Williams University, 1 Old Ferry Road, Bristol, Rhode Island 02809, USA. Author Riosmena-Rodríguez, Rafael Programa de Investigación en Botánica Marina, Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, Carretera al sur Km 5.5, La Paz, C. P. 23080, México. Author Salamanca, Enrique Peña- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad del Valle, Cali, A. A. 25360, Colombia. Author Verbruggen, Heroen School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia. & Phycology Research Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S 8), 9000 Ghent, Belgium. text Phytotaxa 2016 2016-03-14 252 3 185 204 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.252.3.2 journal article 10.11646/phytotaxa.252.3.2 1179-3163 13676171 Caulerpa verticillata J. Agardh 1847:6 ( Figure 7 E,F ) Type Locality: −not specified. According to Skelton and South (2004: 301) the type locality is probably West Indies. Description: −Forming dense small patches on rocks, generally covered by fine sediments, that are collected between the ramifications. Dark green filament fronds, tubular, (0.3–) 0.6–0.7 (–1.2) cm high, (0.8–) 1.4–1.6 (–3.0) mm wide. Whorled branchlets with dichotomous branching, apices forked. Fine creeping stolons, (0.1–) 0.2–0.3 (–0.5) mm diameter. Habitat: −attached to rocky substratum with fine sediments, in turbid waters, intertidal (tide pools) to 2 m deep. Distribution in the ETP: − Mexico : Colima , El Salvador : Golfo de Fonseca, Panama : Golfo de Chiriquí . Caulerpa verticillata was found in El Salvador and Panama and is the first record for those countries; this species was also reported by Pedroche et al. (2005) for the tropical coast of Mexico ( Colima ) ( Figure 3 ). It seems that this species is restricted to estuaries, and probably with more extensive sampling in these habitats the distribution area of this species may increase. References: − Pedroche et al. 2005 . Other remarks: −First report for the Central American Pacific coast. Uncommon species, found on shores, but where encountered often forming dense turfs.