Diversity of bladed B angiales ( R hodophyta) in western M editerranean: recognition of the genus T hemis and descriptions of T . ballesterosii sp. nov., T . iberica sp. nov., and P yropia parva sp. nov.

The diversity of the bladed species of the red algal order B angiales from the I berian M editerranean shores has been reassessed after a detailed study of this region. Prior to this study, 11 bladed species of B angiales had been reported from M editerranean waters: P orphyra atropurpurea , P . cordata , P . coriacea , P . dioica , P . linearis , P . purpurea , P . umbilicalis , P yropia leucosticta , Pyropia   koreana (as P . olivii ), P y. elongata (as P . rosengurttii ) and P y. suborbiculata . A combined analysis of the nuclear n SSU and the plastid rbc L genes together with detailed morphological studies has confirmed the presence of species within the genera P orphyra and P yropia and also revealed a third, undescribed genus, T hemis gen. nov. P orphyra linearis , P yropia elongata and the introduced P yropia koreana had been previously listed for the M editerranean and were recorded in this study. An additional four species, including the introduced P yropia suborbiculata and three new species: P yropia parva sp. nov., T hemis ballesterosii sp. nov., and T hemis iberica sp. nov. were also observed. Hence, most of the P orphyra species traditionally reported along these shores were not reported in this survey. This new floristic B angiales composition confirms the importance of the M editerranean basin as a hotspot for biodiversity, possible endemics of ancient origin and high proportion of introductions. Our data also continue to confirm the extent of B angiales diversity at regional and worldwide levels.