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 racemosa (Forrskål) J. Agarth 1873: 35–36 ( Figure 4 C, D ) Type Locality: − Suez , Egypt Heterotypic synomyms : Caulerpa racemosa var. mucronata De Senerpont Domis ( Senerpont Domis et al. 2003 ) , C. racemosa var. uvifera (C. Agardh) J. Agardh , Caulerpa racemosa var macrophysa (Sonder ex Kützing) W.R. Taylor (1928: 101) . Caulerpa macrophysa sensu Fernández-García et. al. (2011) and Littler & Littler (2010). Description: −Erect, light green thallus. Fronds (1.2–) 2.2–2.6 (–4.9) cm high and (3.7–) 5.8–6.2 (–8.1) mm wide. Stalked branchlets vesicle-like, 1.7–3.4 mm diameter, often arranged in four vertical planes. Stolons spreading, creeping, (0.9–) 1.6–1.9 (–2.9) mm diameter, often in massive pale yellow clumps. Although Senerpont Domis et al. (2003) found a morphological variation, ETP specimens were uniform and can be distinguished from C. chemnitzia specimens by having stalked vesicle-like branchlets and wider stolon diameter. Habitat: −attached to rocky substratum, dead coral and rubble, between 4–8 m deep. Distribution in the ETP : Panama : Golfo de Chiriquí , Colombia : Isla Gorgona, Ecuador : Esmeraldas . Appear to have restricted distribution at the south ETP. References: − Fernández-García et. al. 2011, Littler & Littler 2010 Other remarks: −First report for Colombia and Ecuador Pacific coasts.