Codium (Chlorophyta) species presented in the Galápagos Islands

Abstract

Background. The Galápagos Islands have been the subject of numerous scientific expeditions. The chief source of information on their marine algae is the report published in 1945 by the late William Randolph Taylor on collections made by the Allan Hancock Pacific Expedition of 1934. Prior to this work, there were no published records of Codium from the Galápagos. Taylor recorder six species of Codium of which C. isabelae and C. santamariae were new descriptions. Goals. On the basis of collections made since 1939, we have reviewed the registry of Codium in these islands. Methods. Comparative analysis based on morphology and utricle anatomy. Results. Codium isabelae and C. santamariae are combined under the former name. Records of C. cervicorne and C. dichotomum also are referred to C. isabelae, those of C. setchellii are based partly on representatives of C. picturatum, a recently described species from the Mexican Pacific, Panama, Colombia, and Hawaii, and partly on representatives of a species similar if not identical to C. arabicum. The presence of C. foveolatum is corroborated. Codium fernandezianum, which was also reported by Taylor from the mainland of Ecuador, has been collected on Isla Santa Cruz. Conclusions. Five species of Codium are recognized from Galápagos Islands: C. arabicum, C. fernandezianum, C. foveolatum, C. isabelae and C. picturatum.