Resumo

VERA, Beatriz; GOMEZ, Santiago; PENA HERRERA, Carlos  e  BRITO, Amalia. Rhodogorgon Ramosissima  J. N. Norris & Bucher (Rhodogorgonales, Rhodogorgonaceae, Rhodophyta), registro nuevo para la Costa Venezolana . Acta Bot. Venez. [online]. 2006, vol.29, n.2, pp.263-268. ISSN 0084-5906.

ABSTRACT During a survey of the phycoflora of Morrocoy National Park, located on the western coast of Venezuela, samples of a red algae (Rhodophyta) resembling a gorgonian, which was growing on dead corals a 6 m depth, in Cayo Pescadores was collected. This pink algae has a 25-30 cm long leathery, and slick thallus with irregular branching, greasy consistancy and impregnated with mucilage. The thallus in cross section is characterized by a medular region with many interwoven and ramified filaments of 3-4 µm in diameter. The tips of these filaments are branched at the upper end and were bulbous due to a terminal calcite-sheathed cell. The species was identified as Rhodogorgon ramosissima J.N. Norris & Bucher. This is the first report of this algae in Venezuelan coasts.

Palavras-chave : Corals; Rhodogorgon; Rhodogorgonales; Rhodophyta; Venezuela; West coast.