Rhodolith-forming species of Lithophyllum (Corallinales; Rhodophyta) from Espírito Santo state, Brazil, including the description of L. depressum sp. nov.

The taxonomy of the rhodolith-forming species of Lithophvllum (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) found from Espirito Santo State, Brazil, were evaluated based on extensive subtidal sampling. A comparative analysis of the Brazilian material with recently described species lead us to conclude that three known species (Lithophyllum coralliuae. L johansenii, L. stictaeforme) and one species new to science (Liihophvllum depressum Villas-Boas, Figueiredo & Riosmena-Rodriguez) arc present in the area. All four species can be distinguished primarily by their tetrasporangial conccptaclc roof anatomy. This study has shown that Brazilian rhodolith beds are comparatively more diverse in number of Liihophvllum species than other areas of the world.