Caulerpa racemosa (Forrskål) J. Agarth 1873: 35–36

Fernández-García, Cindy, Wysor, Brian, Riosmena-Rodríguez, Rafael, Salamanca, Enrique Peña- & Verbruggen, Heroen, 2016, DNA-assisted identification of Caulerpa (Caulerpaceae, Chlorophyta) reduces species richness estimates for the Eastern Tropical Pacific, Phytotaxa 252 (3), pp. 185-204 : 194

Caulerpa racemosa (Forrskål) J. Agarth 1873: 35–36 ( Figure 4 C, D )

Type Locality: − Suez, Egypt

Heterotypic synomyms: Caulerpa racemosa var. mucronata De Senerpont Domis ( Senerpont Domis et al. 2003) , C. racemosa var. uvifera (C. Agardh) J. Agardh , Caulerpa racemosa var macrophysa (Sonder ex Kützing) W.R. Taylor (1928: 101) .

Caulerpa macrophysa sensu Fernández-García et. al. (2011) and Littler & Littler (2010).

Description: −Erect, light green thallus. Fronds (1.2–) 2.2–2.6 (–4.9) cm high and (3.7–) 5.8–6.2 (–8.1) mm wide. Stalked branchlets vesicle-like, 1.7–3.4 mm diameter, often arranged in four vertical planes. Stolons spreading, creeping, (0.9–) 1.6–1.9 (–2.9) mm diameter, often in massive pale yellow clumps. Although Senerpont Domis et al. (2003) found a morphological variation, ETP specimens were uniform and can be distinguished from C. chemnitzia specimens by having stalked vesicle-like branchlets and wider stolon diameter.

Habitat: −attached to rocky substratum, dead coral and rubble, between 4–8 m deep.

Distribution in the ETP: Panama: Golfo de Chiriquí, Colombia: Isla Gorgona, Ecuador: Esmeraldas. Appear to have restricted distribution at the south ETP.

References: − Fernández-García et. al. 2011, Littler & Littler 2010

Other remarks: −First report for Colombia and Ecuador Pacific coasts.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Habit and frond morphology: (A,B) C. cupressoides (MX0382), (C,D) C. racemosa (CFPA-1004).