Taxonomic biodiversity of Corallinales (Rhodophyta) in the Gulf of California, Mexico: towards an initial assessment

A catalogue and critical review of species and infraspecific taxa of non-fo ssil Corallinales (Rhodophyta) heretofore reported from the Gulf of Califor nia are presented along with an assessment of coralline species biodiversit y in the region. Published records of coralline red algae are included alon g with unpublished records of those where voucher material is known to be p resent in specified herbaria. Comments relating to type material are provid ed where possible. Catalogue entries are divided into two morphological gro ups corresponding to geniculate and nongeniculate taxa. Within each group, taxa are organized alphabetically by final epithet rather than genus, becau se generic placement of some taxa remains uncertain. Thirty taxa are based on type collections from Gulf of California localities. The types of most o f the 95 species and infraspecific taxa reported from the region have yet t o be re-examined in a modern context, and most Gulf of California records r equire verification. The limited reassessments so far undertaken suggest th at the true species biodiversity of Corallinales in the Gulf of California may be considerably lower than current information indicates, and that mono graphic studies are needed to establish a more accurate taxonomic biodivers ity database for the region. (C) 2000 Adac/Editions scientifiques et medica les Elsevier SAS.