Gongolaria elegans (Sauvageau) Molinari & Guiry, 2020

Marletta, Giuliana & Lombardo, Andrea, 2023, The Fucales (Ochrophyta, Phaeophyceae) of the Island of Pantelleria (Sicily Channel, Mediterranean Sea): a new contribution, Italian Botanist 15, pp. 137-163 : 137

Gongolaria elegans (Sauvageau) Molinari & Guiry

Fig. 16A-C

Cystoseira elegans Sauvageau. Basionym.

Treptacantha elegans (Sauvageau) Orellana & Sansón. Synonyms.

Morphology of specimens from Pantelleria.

G. elegans is a non-caespitose species, attached to the substrate by a robust discoid holdfast. The axis is short, trunk-like and cylindrical, not or poorly branched. The apex is spinose and not prominent. With the surrounding tips of primary branches, usually it forms a typical spinose rosette. Primary branches are cylindrical and bare in their basal parts. Higher order branches are cylindrical and covered with bifid spinose appendages. This species bears spinose and ovoid tophules, grouped along the axis. During the monitoring activities, this species was not found fertile.

Habitat.

G. elegans was observed during both snorkelling activities and scuba dives, from the upper to the middle infralittoral (from 1 to 15 m) in moderately exposed/exposed waters at Kattibuale, Punta Spadillo, Gadir, Cala Tramontana, Cala Levante, Martingana, Kuddie Rosse and Arenella.

Distribution.

This species is distributed in Spain, France, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Italy, Adriatic, Greece, Cyprus and Turkey ( Blanfuné et al. 2022).

Remarks.

This species was found by Giaccone et al. (1972), but Alongi et al. (2004) did not record it. Our record suggests that G. elegans might be in phase of expansion on the island.

Figures

Figure 16. Gongolaria elegans A, B habit C detail of the apex surrounded by the buds of primary branches, which form a wide spinose rosette.