Ericaria balearica (Sauvageau) Neiva, Ballesteros & Serrao, 2022

Marletta, Giuliana & Lombardo, Andrea, 2023, The Fucales (Ochrophyta, Phaeophyceae) of the Island of Pantelleria (Sicily Channel, Mediterranean Sea): a new contribution, Italian Botanist 15, pp. 137-163 : 137

Ericaria balearica (Sauvageau) Neiva, Ballesteros & Serrao

Fig. 11A-D

Cystoseira balearica Sauvageau. Basionym.

Cystoseira brachycarpa var. balearica (Sauvageau) Giaccone. Synonyms.

Morphology of specimens from Pantelleria.

This species is caespitose, with an irregular, spreading holdfast, from which several axes are issued. The axes are cylindrical and knotty due to the presence of basal stumps of the fallen branches. This species shows a dark blue-green iridescence in situ, especially in the apical parts of branchlets. The apices are not prominent and bear spinose appendages. Primary branches are cylindrical and are spinose only in the basal parts. Higher order branches are cylindrical as well, but they are not spinose. During the monitoring activities, this species was not reproductive.

Habitat.

E. balearica was observed during both scuba dives and snorkelling activities at Bue Marino, Punta Spadillo, Cala Tramontana, Cala Levante, Scauri, Grotte Sataria, Kuddie Rosse. In the Island of Pantelleria it is widely distributed from the upper to the lower infralittoral (from 0.5 to 28 m of depth).

Distribution.

According to Neiva et al. (2022), this species is distributed in the Balearic Sea and the Island of Pantelleria.

Remarks.

This species was reported from the island by Alongi et al. (2004) as Cystoseira brachycarpa J. Agardh. Recently, Neiva et al. (2022) concluded that E. brachycarpa (J. Agardh) Molinari & Guiry and E. balearica are two cryptic species with different biogeographical distribution.

Figures

Figure 11. Ericaria balearica A, B habit C, D detail of not prominent apices with spinose appendages.