The Marine Benthic Algal Flora of Puerto Rico, IIIB. Rhodophyta: Ceramiales and Rhodymeniales

This account is a taxonomic study of the benthic red algal species of the orders Rhodymeniales and Ceramiales from Puerto Rico, Caribbean Sea. We recognize 1 class, 2 orders, 6 families, 106 genera, and 202 species that occur in the benthic marine communities in Puerto Rico. This treatment includes date, place, and author(s) of valid publication for all genera and species, type locality information, descriptive accounts of vegetative morphological and reproductive anatomy, and distribution of each species. Where relevant, comments on their habitat are provided, and taxonomy and nomenclature are discussed. An artificial key to the genera and keys to species within genera are included. Either an in situ or other illustration accompanies most species. Four new species are described: Botryocladia obesa D.L.Ballant., H.Ruiz et J.N.Norris; Champia parguerensis D.L.Ballant., Lozada-Troche, J.N.Norris et H.Ruiz; Compsothamnion prostratum D.L.Ballant. et J.N.Norris; and Halichrysis hanisakii D.L.Ballant. et J.N.Norris. Bostrychia montagnei, Botryocladia caraibica, Callithamniella tingitana, Champia farlowii, Laurencia dendroidea, Woelkerlingia sterreri, and Wrangelia hesperia are reported as new geographic records for Puerto Rico. In total, 604 species of Phaeophyceae, Chlorophyta, Prasinodermatophyta, and Rhodophyta are currently known from Puerto Rico.