A new record of a second seagrass species from the Hawaiian archipelago: Halophila decipiens Ostenfeld

Abstract

Halophila decipiens Ostenfeld, a new record for the Hawaiian Islands, was collected from three locations spanning the archipelago: Midway Atoll at 3–15 m deep, O’ahu Island at 1–2 m deep, and Hawai’i Island at 40 m deep. These findings expand the biogeographical distribution of this pantropical seagrass into the north central Pacific Ocean. Specimens showed morphological, reproductive and DNA characteristics typical of the species.