Application of neontological taxonomic concepts to Late Eocene coralline algae (Rhodophyta) of the Austrian Molasse Zone

Traditionally, different diagnostic characters have been used in the identi fication of fossil and Recent coralline algal genera. The taxonomy of fossi l coralline algae has focused on well calcified features such as basal fila ments and conceptacle perforation. In contrast, the taxonomy of Recent mate rial uses a combination of several features with a low fossilization potent ial, such as epithallial cells and structures of sexual reproductive organs . In the studied material of the Late Eocene Austrian Molasse Zone Lithopor ella, Neogoniolithon, Spongites, Phymatolithon and Sporolithon are identifi ed and described applying features of neontological taxonomic concepts. The se features are: (1) the arrangement of basal filaments; (2) the occurrence of cell fusions; (3) the relative length of subepithallial initials; (4) t he conceptacle perforation; (5) the orientation of filaments around the con ceptacle pore; and (6) the type of conceptacle roof formation. Some of thes e features were thought to be unpreservable in fossil material until recent ly. The fossilization potential of diagnostic features and the identificati on of the documented genera and species are discussed in detail. Moreover, a checklist for the description of fossil taxa is provided.