The marine red algae of Rodrigues (Mauritius, Indian Ocean)
Author
de Clerck, Olivier
Author
Coppejans, Eric
Author
Schils, Tom
Author
Verbruggen, Heroen
Author
Leliaert, Frederik
Author
de Vriese, Thomas
Author
Marie, Daniel
text
Journal of Natural History
2004
2004-12-01
38
23
3021
3057
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222930410001695033
journal article
10.1080/00222930410001695033
1464-5262
5251858
Gracilaria corticata
(J. Agardh) J.
Agardh, 1852: 602–603
(
figure 1
)
References:
Jaasund, 1976: 83
, figure 168;
Moorjani and Simpson, 1988: 29
, pl. 59d.
Type
locality.
Sri Lanka
.
Vouchers.
HEC
14627azb,
18 September 2001
, western part of
Cotton
Bay
(s.s. 13).
Ecology.
Epilithic, mainly on vertical walls of high intertidal pools.
Indian Ocean distribution.
Andaman Islands, south-east coast of Arabia,
Christmas Island
,
Djibouti
,
India
,
Iran
,
Kenya
,
Kuwait
, Laccadives,
Madagascar
,
Maldives
,
Mauritius
(Dickie, 1974: 194;
Børgesen, 1943: 71
),
Nicobar Islands
,
Oman
,
Pakistan
,
Réunion
(
Jadin, 1935: 165
), Rodrigues (Dickie, 1977:
7),
Seychelles
,
Somalia
,
Sri Lanka
,
Tanzania
,
Yemen
.
Note.
The ecology of this species in Rodrigues differs from the situation along the East African coast. In
Kenya
and
Tanzania
the species grows mainly epiphytically on stems of the seagrass
Thalassodendron ciliatum
(Forsskål) den Hartog
in shallow sublittoral areas. It can also be found epilithic in pools at
FIGS 1–7. Rhodophytes. (1)
Gracilaria corticata
(HEC 14627). (2)
Renouxia antillana
(HEC 14804). (3)
Platoma cyclocolpa
(HEC 14805). (4)
Titanophora pikeana
(HEC 14875). (5, 6)
Cryptonemia crenulata
(HEC 14876): (5) general morphology; (6) serrate margin. (7)
Cryptonemia crenulata
(HEC 15134b): cross-section showing cortex and medulla with densely stained ganglionic cells. Scale bars: 1 cm (1, 3, 4); 2 cm (2, 5); 5 mm (6); 50
M
m (7).
about low water mark. On
Rodrigues
, on the other hand,
G. corticata
has only been observed in a few high intertidal rock pools.