Pseudobangia corderoi sp. nov???????. (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) from the Philippines

A new filamentous bangialean alga, Pseudobangia corderoi sp. nov., is described from the northern Philippines. Locally known as a sea vegetable, this species was previously identified as 'Bangia fuscopurpurea'. Inferred combined analyses of the nucleus-encoded SSU rDNA and the plastid-encoded RubisCO LSU (rbcL) gene indicate that P. corderoi is sister to another unidentified species of Pseudobangia (originally referred to also as 'Bangia fuscopurpurea') from Taiwan. Together, these two taxa formed the closest diverging lineage from Pseudobangia kaycoleae (generitype). Current molecular phylogenies have also yielded monophyly of Pseudobangia and strong support for a sister relationship with the 'Bangia 2' lineage. Molecular and geographic analyses clearly differentiate P. corderoi from other filamentous Bangiales, whereas morpho-anatomical analysis identified only one distinguishing character, i.e. larger dimensions of the thalli.

Automated summary

A new seaweed, Pseudobangia corderoi, previously misidentified as Bangia fuscopurpurea, was described from the Philippines. Molecular analysis showed that P. corderoi is closely related to an unidentified Pseudobangia species from Taiwan, and they are the closest relatives to Pseudobangia kaycoleae. Phylogenetic studies also confirmed the monophyly of Pseudobangia and its sister relationship with the 'Bangia 2' lineage. Morpho-anatomical analysis only found one distinguishing character, larger thallus dimensions, for P. corderoi compared to other filamentous Bangiales.