Meristotheca dakarensis Faye & Masuda 2004

Publication Details
Meristotheca dakarensis Faye & Masuda 2004: 256, 257, figs 1-21

Published in: Faye, E.J., Shimada, S., Kogame, K. & Masuda, M. (2004). A new red algal species Meristotheca dakarensis (Solieriaceae, Gigartinales) from Senegal, western Africa, with comments on the relegation of Meristiella Cheney to synonymy with Meristotheca J.Agardh. Cryptogamie Algologie 25: 241-259.

Type Species
The type species (lectotype) of the genus Meristotheca is Meristotheca papulosa (Montagne) J.Agardh.

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

Type Information
Holotype locality: Ngor Island, Dakar, Senegal; (Faye et al. 2004: 257) Holotype: G. Dioh Faye; 10 May 2003; SAP; 096664 (Faye et al. 2004: 257) Notes: Holotype: Cystocarpic specimen.

General Environment
This is a marine species.

Description
Blades decumbent, 10-30 cm high, 500-1200 microns thick in the upper to lower portions, irregularly dichotomously divided four to twelve times, with segments 1-4 cm in width, with or without marginal proliferations, deeply rose-red or deeply reddish-brown, fleshy, tough, internally multiaxial; the proliferations (when present), simple, laciniate (up to 2 mm in length) or dichotomously divided two to four times, foliose (up to 7 cm in length). Reproduction as for the genus. Tetrasporangial initial cut off basally from the parental cell; tetrasporangia scattered over the middle to upper portions of the blade, narrowly ellipsoidal, 38-45 microns in length, 15-20 microns in diameter. Gametophytes dioecious, producing reproductive structures over the middle to upper portions of the blade; spermangia ellipsoidal, 4-5 microns in length, 3-4 microns in diameter; carpogonial branch usually three-celled occasionally two- or four-celled, rarely with a sterile lateral; auxiliary-cell complex present; cystocarpic protruberances numerous on the dorsal surface (a few on the ventral surface and margins), 1.5-2.0 mm in height, 1.5-2.8 mm in diameter, with one or two cystocarps 750-850 microns in height by 700-800 microns in diameter (including an enveloping tissue 50-80 microns in thickness); carposporangial chains unbranched or occasionally branched once, consisting of up to seven cells.

Habitat
Bedrock in the upper subtidal zone between 0 and 6 m.

Created: 30 January 2005 by Fabio Rindi.

Last updated: 30 April 2017

Verification of Data
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Taxonomic note
Faye et al. (2004: 256) consider that the species referred to as Meristotheca senegalensis J. Feldmann by several phycologists is likely to be equivalent to their M. dakarensis, although absolute certainty is impossible so long as Feldman's type and/or authentic material remains unlocated. - (19 April 2007) - G.M. Guiry

Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=66751

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 30 April 2017. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 16 March 2025