Chroodactylon depressum (G. Martens) V. Krishnamurthy, M.S. Balakrishnan & T.V. Desikachary

Ganesan, E. K., West, John A. & Jr, Orlando Necchi, 2018, A catalogue and bibliography of non-marine (freshwater and estuarine) Rhodophyta (red algae) of India, Phytotaxa 364 (1), pp. 1-48 : 6-7

Chroodactylon depressum (G. Martens) V. Krishnamurthy, M.S. Balakrishnan & T.V. Desikachary

Desikachary et al. 1990, Part II A, p. 10 ; Ott 2009, p. 252.

Taxonomic synonym: Allogonium depressum : Martens 1870a, p. 12; Srinivasan 1965, p. 244.

Distribution in India: West Bengal (northern Bengal between Silligore and Titalya in stagnant waters, forming a dense covering on water plants intermixed with blue-green algae).

Notes: Asterocytis is not currently accepted as a valid generic name and the two species referred to that genus are now assigned to Chroodactylon . Two species of Chroodactylon [ C. wolleanum Hansgirg and C. ornatum (C. Ag.) Basson ] currently appear to be well recognized and the Indian C. depressum is “treated as a provisional entry and has not been subject to verification” ( Guiry & Guiry 2017). Following Ross ( Drew & Ross 1965) and recent authors ( Schneider & Wynne, 2007; Ott 2009; Silva 2017 and Guiry & Guiry 2017), we also consider generic names ( Allogonium , Asterocytis , Callonema, Glauconema and Chroodacytlon ) represent a single generic entity and that Chroodactylon has priority over other names. Described as early as 1870, based on the first (and probably the only collection made so far) from “Lower Bengal”, C. depressum continues to be a very poorly known species to date. Silva (2017) noted that the collector was Mr. S. Kurz in 1894 at a place “between Silligore and Titalya, northern Bengal, India ”. This place is apparently free from any tidal influence from the Bay of Bengal and would appear that it was collected from a truly freshwater habitat. More importantly, Silva et al. (1996) did not include this speceis in their Indian Ocean Marine Algal Catalog, clearly suggesting a freshwater or non–marine habitat. However, the citation as “Lower Bengal” by Desikachary et al. (1990) based on Martens (1870a) apparently is an error. It should be noted that the term “Lower Bengal” was used in earlier literature mostly to encompass Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) and adjoining areas including brackish ponds at Port Canning. After the original description by Martens, this species was not collected subsequently from India or neighboring countries. Clearly, the Indian specimens referred to as C. depressum need more critical and comparative study, especially examination of Kurz’s original collection, if it is still traceable in European herbaria. Wynne (pers. comm.) suggested LE (Leningrad) as a possible place for the specimens of the original collection.