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Issue: Vol. 760 No. 3: 9 Jun. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-06-09
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.760.3.4
Page range: 241-252
Abstract views: 0
PDF downloaded: 0

Molecular and morphological systematic investigation of Chondrophycus minutus sp. nov. (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) from India

Department of Biological Science; Chosun University; Gwangju 61452; Korea
Department of Biological Science; Chosun University; Gwangju 61452; Korea
Department of Biological Science; Chosun University; Gwangju 61452; Korea
COI-5P Chondrophycus phylogeny rbcL taxonomy Algae taxonomy Abbreviations: BI bayesian inference BS bootstrap end of the cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene GTR general time reversible BPP Bayesian posterior probability large subunit of the enzyme ribulose-1 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/ oxygenase

Abstract

We describe a new species from Tamil Nadu, India, Chondrophycus minutus sp. nov. based on molecular and morphological data. Chondrophycus minutus is characterized by 1) a small, terete, cartilaginous thallus up to 0.6 cm in height, 2) an alternate branching pattern, 3) thick-walled and obconical cortical cells, 4) appearing polygonal to irregularly angular in surface view, 5) lacking secondary pit connections, 6) tetrasporangia with right-angle arrangement. Molecular phylogenetic analyses confirmed our C. minutus as a distinct species, showing sequence divergences from other Chondrophycus species ranging from 5.3–9.6% for rbcL gene and 7.4–10.9% for COI-5P. Chondrophycus minutus sp. nov. is distinguished from two species known to occur in India, C. brandenii and C. ceylanicus. It differs from C. brandenii, which has terete to partially compressed thalli, irregular radial branching, and thin-walled medullary cells, and from C. ceylanicus, which is characterized by a compressed thallus with palisade-arranged, elongated cortical cells. This study identifies Chondrophycus minutus as a newly described species in the Indian macroalgal flora, supported by molecular and morphological evidence.

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How to Cite

Romero-Orozco, P., Won, B.Y. & Cho, T.O. (2026) Molecular and morphological systematic investigation of Chondrophycus minutus sp. nov. (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) from India. Phytotaxa 760 (3): 241–252. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.760.3.4