Evidence based on both morphological and molecular data is presented to demonstrate that Caulerpa freycinetii C.Agardh var. integerrima Zanardini, a name that has long been treated within the taxonomic synonymy of C. serrulata (Forsskål) J. Agardh, is to be resurrected and recognised at the level of species, C. integerrima (Zanardini) comb. nov., for an alga thought to be endemic to the Red Sea. Three species in the genus with which it is superficially similar, C. bartoniae, C. brachypus and C. serrulata, are separated from it using the tufA gene, complemented by morphological characters, including the entire margins and the 1.5–2.0-mm thickness of the assimilators. Another species also described originally from the Red Sea, Herpochaeta (Caulerpa) requienii Montagne, is also discussed and eliminated from consideration. Weber-van Bosse’s assignment of this species as a forma within C. racemosa is accepted, namely, C. racemosa var. lamourouxii (Turner) Weber-van Bosse f. requienii (Montagne) Weber-van Bosse. |
