Diagnostic characters in fossil coralline algae (Corallinophycidae: Rhodophyta) from the Miocene of southern Moravia (Carpathian Foredeep, Czech Republic)

Fourteen coralline algal species (Corallinales, Sporolithales) from Early Langhian (Lower Badenian) red-algal limestones of the Carpathian Foredeep (Czech Republic) are described: Sporolithon lvovicum (Maslov) Bassi et al., Lithothamnion roveretoi Airoldi, Lithothamnion moretii Lemoine, ? Lithothamnion sp. 1, ? Lithothamnion sp. 2, Mesophyllum alternans (Foslie) Cabioch & Mendoza, M. cf. erubescens (Foslie) Lemoine, M. cf. printzianum Woelkerling & Harvey, M. curtum Lemoine, Phymatolithon sp., Lithophyllum sp. 1, Lithophyllum sp. 2, Hydrolithon lemoinei (Miranda) Aguirre et al. and Spongites fruticulosa Kutzing. The characters used in coralline algal species description and identification are summarized and discussed. Five characters newly used in fossil material are associated with the structure and fate of presumed tetrasporangial, gametangial and carposporangial conceptacles, with the shape, size and organization of roof cells, and with the position of the asexuate conceptacles relative to the surrounding thallus surface. Gametangial conceptacles of Phymatolithon and gametangial and carposporangial plants of Sporolithon lvovicum are described for the first time.