Abstract
The red algal species Griffithsia capitata (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta), native to the Canary Islands and Madeira, is reported for the first time from San Andres Island, International Biosphere Reserve Seaflower, Caribbean Sea. All specimens, which are small and easily overlooked, were found in coral reef habitats, at depths in the range of 9-17 m, growing mostly on coral rubble or as epiphytes on larger algae. The species was found with all reproductive stages. Its morphological and reproductive features are described and discussed. Whether this new finding is a recent introduction or a species with a natural amphiatlantic distribution still needs to be addressed.
Highlights
The Caribbean marine flora has received considerable attention (Miloslavich et al 2010), and it is rather well known (Costello et al 2010), if compared to other biogeographic regions
As in many other regions, in the Caribbean the marine flora is dominated by red algae, and most species are small and epiphytic
Griffithsia capitata Børgesen (Figure 2). Distribution This species, which has as type locality Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (Børgesen 1930), has a limited distribution in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean
Summary
The Caribbean marine flora has received considerable attention (Miloslavich et al 2010), and it is rather well known (Costello et al 2010), if compared to other biogeographic regions. As in many other regions, in the Caribbean the marine flora is dominated by red algae, and most species are small and epiphytic. One of the species recently found is Griffithsia capitata (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta), native to the Canary Islands and Madeira.
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