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Benthic Marine Algae of Rotuma Island
Rotuman Distribution
Ropure (Hapmak) (Rll USP 441).
Habitat and Remarks
Found under overhanging coral at depths of 1-2 m towards the passage on the outer reef,
associated with Hypnea nidulans and Dictyopteris repens. A number of small red algae
(Grzrithsia subcylindrica, Herposiphonia sp.) were epiphytic. The Rotuma specimens were
more than 15 mm high and hence larger than the f. minima described by Weber-van Bosse
(1928: 474) and reported in the Pacific region (Dawson 1956: 51, fig. 47; Womersley and
Bailey 1970: 320).
Coelothrix Bgrgesen 1920: 389
Coelothrix irregularis (Harvey) Borgesen 1920: 389; Dawson 1957: 115, fig. 23b; Taylor
1960: 488, pl. 45, fig. 3; pl. 46, fig. 4; Chapman 1963: 117, fig. 121; Trono 1969: 66, pl. 6,
fig. 6; pl. 7, fig. 5; Jaasund 1976: 101, fig. 208; Tsuda and Wray 1977: 105; Magruder and
Hunt 1979: 63; Cribb 1983: 68; Lewis 1984: 37; Payri and Meinesz 1985a: 511; Silva et al.
1987: 52; Littler et al. 1989: 170; Tsuda 1991: 50; Price and Scott 1992: 60, fig. 17A-D;
Millar and Kraft 1993: 3 1.
Cordylecladia? irregularis Harvey 1853: 156 (type locality: Key West, Florida, USA).
(Fig. 195a-b)
Thallus up to 4 cm long and 600 p,m in diameter, firm and pliable; axes arcuate and
creeping, bearing erect, terete branches 250450 p,m in diameter. Branch apices obtuse.
Thallus multiaxial, hollow, with slender central cavity up to 200 ym in diameter surrounded
by a compact layer of tissue 5-6 cells thick. Cortical cells cylindrical, 40-60 ym in diameter
and up to 80 ym long; innermost cells slender, consisting of longitudinal axial filaments up
to 35 km in diameter, often bearing subspherical gland cells 45-60 ym in diameter. Surface
cells of 2 distinct types, some longitudinally elongate, elliptical, 40-100 ym long and up to
30 p,m wide others isodiameteric, up to 25 km in diameter. Plants sterile.
Distribution
Fiji, Micronesia, Tahiti, Hawaii, Australia, Philippines, Japan, tropical Americas,
Caribbean, West Indies, Tanzania.
Fijian Record
New record for Fiji.
Roturnan Distribution
Maka Bay (MAK181 USP 613).
Habitat and Remarks
Growing intertwined with Laurencia sp. within seagrass beds, at 0.5-1 m depths.
Rhodymeniu Greville 1830: 48
Rhodymenia divaricata Dawson 1941: 141, pl. 23 fig. 31 (type locality: Guaymas Bay,
Gonora, Mexico); Dawson 1963a: 460, pl. 89(13) fig. 2; Trono 1969: 65, pl. 8 fig. 6; Tsuda
and Wray 1977: 11 1.
(Figs 139, 161)
Thallus violet-purple, 3-4 cm high, estipitate and expanding basally into an irregularly,
divaricately dichotomous, complanate blade 270-280 krn thick and 3-8 mm broad, with