Tepoztequiella rhizoidea gen. et sp. nov. (Solieriaceae, Rhodophyta) from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Molecular methods have greatly aided in discovering new diversity in many cryptic algal groups. Molecular-assisted species discovery has focused morphological analyses on previously overlooked taxa, leading to a better understanding of diversity and evolutionary patterns. The Yucatan Peninsula, as a junction of North and South American Atlantic floras, is very diverse and, while a well-explored area, continues to reveal new species. Our studies in this area have revealed a new cylindrical member of the Solieriaceae. Based on COI-5P, rbcL and RuBisCo spacer sequences, we show that this entity is phylogenetically unique. Its position in phylogenetic analyses, combined with morphological characters and the genetic divergence from other species and genera within the family, strongly supports the establishment of Tepoztequiella rhizoidea gen. & sp. nov. The diagnostic character of T. rhizoidea is the presence of many rhizoids arising from medullary filaments and from the cells of the inner cortex.