Hypnea spinella (C.Agardh) Kützing 1847

Publication Details
Hypnea spinella (C.Agardh) Kützing 1847: 23

Published in: Kützing, F.T. (1847). Diagnosen und Bemerkungen zu neuen oder kritischen Algen. Botanische Zeitung 5: 1-5, 22-25, 33-38, 52-55, 164-167, 177-180, 193-198, 219-223.

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Type Species
The type species (lectotype) of the genus Hypnea is Hypnea musciformis (Wulfen) J.V.Lamouroux.

Status of Name
This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

Basionym
Sphaerococcus spinellus C.Agardh

Type Information
Type locality: "Indiae occidentalis" (West Indies); Type: LD; Herb. alg. Agardh 33888 (Yoshida 1998: 744) Notes: Dawson (1961: 238) gives the following additional data: collected in coral, by Aspergen. According to Haroun & Prud'homme van Reine, 1993: 122) the lectotype (in LD) is herb Ag. 33888, "Vestindien"

General Environment
This is a marine species.

Created: 19 January 1998 by M.D. Guiry.

Last updated: 01 February 2024

Verification of Data
Users are responsible for verifying the accuracy of information before use, as noted on the website Content page.

Nomenclatural note
According to Haroun & Prud'Homme van Reine (1993), the correct name is Hypnea spinella (C. Agardh) J. Agardh 1847: 14. - (06 December 2016) - G.M. Guiry

Taxonomic notes
According to Xia & Zhang (1999: 80), this species is a synonym of Hypnea cervicornis J.Agardh. According to Lawson & John (1987: 238) "there is much confusion regarding the distinction between Hypnea cervicornis and H. spinella taxonomically, nomenclaturally, and biologically. Doubt has been expressed (see De Toni, 1900: Tanaka, 1941) as to whether the illustration of H. spinella by Kützing (1868, pl.26, figs d-f) should be more correctly attributed to H. cervicornis. This question can only be finally resolved by referring back to the original material on which Kützing based his illustration." - (11 May 2006) - G.M. Guiry
Nauer et al. (2014) treat H. spinella and H. cervicornis as two separate species. - (11 September 2015) - G.M. Guiry

Distributional note
This species has been introduced into the Mediterranean (Verlaque et al. 2015: 149), via shipping and the Suez Canal, being first found at Simi Island, Greece, in 1926. It is now widespread in the Mediterranean. - (04 November 2015) - M.D. Guiry

Usage note
“This is an edible species, being commonly eaten (boiled in coconut milk) in other parts of the Pacific and Asia.” (Payri, N’Yeurt & Orempuller, 2000: 224). - (11 May 2006) - G.M. Guiry

Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=2727

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 01 February 2024. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 06 April 2025

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