Lithophyllum

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Lithophyllum
Temporal range: Silurian – Recent 418.7–0.0 Ma
Undersurface of Lithophyllum orbiculatum, showing hypothallus and perithallus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Clade: Archaeplastida
Division: Rhodophyta
Class: Florideophyceae
Order: Corallinales
Family: Corallinaceae
Subfamily: Lithophylloideae
Genus: Lithophyllum
Philippi, 1837
Species

107 species, see text

Synonyms
  • Hyperantherella Heydrich, 1900
  • Lithothamnium R.A.Philippi, 1837
  • Melobesia Heydrich, 1897
  • Perispermon Heydrich, 1900 (synonym)
  • Pseudolithophyllum Marie Lemoine, 1913
  • Stichospora Heydrich, 1900
  • Tenarea Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1832

[1]

Lithophyllum is a genus of thalloid red algae belonging to the family Corallinaceae.

Lithophyllum stictaeforme.
L. orbiculatum on a rock fragment; rock length ~3 cm.
Lithophyllum okamurae
Lithophyllum sp.

This genus is known in the fossil record from the Silurian to the Quaternary (from about 418.7 to 0.0 million years ago). Fossils of species within this genus have been found in Europe, United States, South America, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, India, Japan and Australia.[2]

Description

The monomerous, crustose thalli are composed of a single system of filaments which grow close to the underlying surface. Lithophyllum reproduces by means of conceptacles. The epithallus is periodically shed to avoid organisms growing on top of the alga.[3][4]

Species

The valid species currently considered to belong to this genus are:[1]

Bibliography

References

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