Abstract
Consideration of the geographical distribution of some fossil algal records (Chlorophyta: Dasycladales and Caulerpales) from the Upper Triassic onwards, in the light of post-Pangaean continental block separation, shows an essentially Tethyan dispersal-pattern in the Mesozoic and Early Caenozoic. Suitable shallow-marine habitats were dispersed eastwards over the present Eurasian area until the mid-Caenozoic break-up of the Tethys Sea: westwards a decisive Atlantic oceanic gap operated from the end of the end Lower Cretaceous. After reviewing the fossil records of the surviving living algae considered ( Acetabularia (including Acicularia), Bathophora, Bornetella, Chorocladus, Cymopolia, Dasycladus, Halicoryne, Halimeda, Neomeris, Penicillus) and their possible ancestors, their present-day distributions can largely be accounted for by shelf-sea migrations in this way: for one occurrence transoceanic living algal dispersal seems likely.
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