Ophiophycus D.E.Berthold, Lefler & Laughinghouse, 2020

Holotype species: Ophiophycus aerugineus D.E.Berthold, Lefler & Laughinghouse

Original publication and holotype designation: Berthold, D.E., Lefler, F.W., Laughinghouse, H.D., Jr. (2020 '2021'). Untangling filamentous marine cyanobacterial diversity from the coast of South Florida with the description of Vermifilaceae fam. nov. and three new genera: Leptochromothrix gen. nov., Ophiophycus gen. nov., and Vermifilum gen. nov. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 106(107101): [1-18], 12 figs, 3 tables.

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Description: Homocytous filamentous cyanobacteria, forming light to dark olive green planktic trichomes or intertwined within floating prostrate mats of unconsolidated substrate near mangroves. Trichomes uniseriate, cylindrical, coiling, and flexuous, slightly constricted at cross-walls of even number of cells (2, 4, and 8), facultative attenuation, sheaths absent. Cells discoid, shorter than wide; apical cell conical rounded, without calyptra. Cell content olive green, light blue-green, facultative granulated cross-walls. All cells capable of division. Reproduction by fragmentation, necridia, and hormogonia.

Origin of description: this description is from the original publication; it may have been modified slightly. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2023-03-03 by M.D. Guiry.

Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

Gender: This genus name is currently treated as masculine.

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Strunecký, O., Ivanova, A.P. & Mares, J. (2022 '2023'). An updated classification of cyanobacterial orders and families based on phylogenomic and polyphasic analysis (Review). Journal of Phycology 59(1): 12-51.

Comments: Thalli resemble worm/snake-like frills on detached floating mats containing sediments observed macroscopically. Presence of irregular bulbs on hormogonia and vegetative cells in older cultures. Presence of tightly coiled long hormogonia during growth

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Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in CD format. These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above. The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.

Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.

Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=53159

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 03 March 2023. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 25 August 2024