First record of Rhodymenia holmesii (Rhodymeniaceae, Rhodophyta) for the Mediterranean Sea from Morocco

摘要

Background The rhodymenialean red algal species Rhodymenia holmesii was collected in the lower intertidal zones from Dalya and Al-Hoceima (Northern Morocco, Mediterranean Sea). This represents the first record and description in the Mediterranean Sea. Results Moroccan materiel was studied in detail and compared with other closely related species. Descriptions of the morphological features reveal thalli with flaccid blades, 8?cm long, regularly dichotomously branched and attached with stoloniferous holdfast. Anatomically, cortical region composed of 2–3 cell layers and medulla composed of 3–5 cell layers. Conclusions This finding indicates that the biodiversity of the related sites is probably richer than generally thought, and other phycological studies will increase the known algal biodiversity of the region.