Compsothamnion gracillimum De Toni 1903

Publication Details
Compsothamnion gracillimum De Toni 1903: 1356

Published in: De Toni, G.B. (1903). Sylloge algarum omnium hucusque cognitarum. Vol. IV. Florideae. Sectio III. pp. [i], frontispiece, [iii-v], 775, 775 bis, 776, 777 bis, 777-1521 + 1523-1525. Patavii [Padua]: Sumptibus auctoris.

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Publication date: 17 January 1903

Type Species
The type species (holotype) of the genus Compsothamnion is Compsothamnion thuioides (Smith) F.Schmitz.

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

Type Information
Lectotype locality: Torquay; (Maggs & Hommersand 1993: 161) Lectotype: Griffiths; February, 1832; LD; 18907 (Maggs & Hommersand 1993: 161)

Origin of Species Name
Adjective (Latin), very slender (Neal 1993).

General Environment
This is a marine species.

Created: 02 August 1996 by M.D. Guiry.

Last updated: 23 November 2023

Verification of Data
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Nomenclatural note
The complex nomenclatural and taxonomic history of this entity is explained in detail by Dixon (1960: 298 et seq.). The confusion arose because of the misinterpretation by Harvey (1833: 345) of Callithamnion gracillimum C.Agardh [which actually represents the species currently known as Compsothamnion thuyoides] whilst having to hand the species currently known as Compsothamnion gracillimum. Nägeli (1862: 344) based his "Compsothamnion thuyoides" on Harvey's name, seemingly not realising that Harvey's name was based on C. Agardh's Callithamnion gracillimum and not a separate nomenclatural entity. Dixon (1960: 300) concluded that the first person to use the name Compsothamnion gracillimum while excluding Callithamnion gracillimum C.Agardh was De Toni (1900: 1356 "non Agardh"). The name Compsothamnion gracillimum is often incorrectly attributed to "(Harvey) Nägeli" but such a combination not validly made by Nägeli (unless one considers that J.Agardh's (1851: 43) description validated Nägeli's binomial) and De Toni's validation means that the name must be attributed solely to him.

"This species was recorded from the Adriatic Sea by Hauck (1882: 77, fig. 28, as "Callithamnion gracillimum Harvey"). But, as pointed out by Dixon (1960: 299), Ca. gracillimum wasn't described by Harvey but by C. Agardh (1828: 168). However, as said by Dixon (op. cit.), J. Agardh (1851: 44-45) considered specimens described by Harvey in Hooker (1883: 345) to be referred to as a species distinct from that described by C. Agardh, the latter one by him considered as a synonym of Ca. thuioides [= Compsothamnion thuioides]. Dixon (op. cit.: 300) finally concluded that the intended new combination "Co. gracillimum (Harvey) De Toni" published by De Toni (1903: 1356) should be considered as a new species and not a new combination, because De Toni (op. cit.) excluded the type of Ca. gracillimum C. Agardh [a species by the same De Toni (op. cit.: 1355) listed among the synonyms of Co. thuioides "thuyoides"]. There are different opinions on the conspecificiity or not between Co. gracillimum and Co. thuioides. But, waiting for further studies, we here follow Maggs & Hommersand (1993: 159) in considering the above species as distinct each other. In the Mediterranean Sea, Co. gracillimum was rarely recorded and poorly documented. In fact, after Hauck's (op. cit.) record (as Ca. gracillimum sensu Harvey) it was recorded with no documentations from Corsica (France) by Boudouresque & Perret- Boudouresque, 1987: 21) and Catalonia (Spain) by Ballesteros (1990: 21). Finally, it should be noted that Ardrè (1970: 164) referred to as this species [as "Co. thuioides "thuyoides" (J.E. Smith) Nägeli var. gracillimum (Harvey) Halos"] the fig. 9 of pl. XIX published by Funk (1955) as Co. thuioides "thuyoides" from the Gulf of Naples (Italy)." (Cormaci & al. 2023: 368-9). - (11 May 2006) - M.D. Guiry

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Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 23 November 2023. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 23 April 2025

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