Cymopolia J.V.Lamouroux, 1816

Lectotype species: Cymopolia barbata (Linnaeus) J.V.Lamouroux

Original publication: Lamouroux, J.V.F. (1816). Histoire des polypiers coralligènes flexibles, vulgairement nommés zoophytes. pp. [i]-lxxxiv, chart, [1]-560, [560, err], pls I-XIX, uncol. by author. Caen: De l'imprimerie de F. Poisson.

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Description: Thalli unicells, either dichotomously branched up to 20 cm in length as in C. barbata (L.) Lamouroux, or unbranched 3 to 5 cm as in C. vanbossei Solms. Thallus a series of calcified segments ca. 4 cm diam. connected by narrower uncalcified joints. Segments composed of compact series of laterals off a siphonous axis. Secondary laterals 5-6 with two fates if nucleate, a single oval gametangium with dense cytoplasm or if anucleate, vacuolate photosynthetic hairs the swollen tips of which form a faceted green cortex protruding slightly through the calcification. The indeterminate apical segment crowned by a whorl of deciduous, thrice-branched sterile hairs. Parietal chloroplasts numerous and discoid, thylakoids not stacked into grana; pyrenoids absent; starch grains in both chloroplasts and cytoplasm, the latter not membrane bound. Asexual reproduction by regeneration of fragments or large aplanospores (unliberated gametangia).Sexual reproduction by means of 100's of biflagellate gametes from continuously produced gametangia 300 mm diam. liberated prior to segment calcification. Gametangia stored or develop as large aplanospores when released from fragmented calcified segments. Thalli multinucleate with mean of 252 nuclei in central siphon of C. vanbossei A single nucleus migrates from central siphon into primary lateral and out into one of 5 or 6 secondary laterals. The nucleate secondary lateral becomes a gametangium. Mitotic divisions produce gamete nuclei; mature gametangium with ca 1200 nuclei. Cymopolia with patchy pantropical distribution. C. barbata Caribbean and Eastern Atlantic, C. vanbossei Pacific. High subtidal and intertidal even during summer. Life cycle continuous in Caribbean, apparently warm seasonal in Pacific. Fossil record to Maastrichtian in the Cretaceous. C. vanbossei and C. barbata close morphologically but with very different isozyme patterns for malic dehydrogenase. Most similar to Bornetella and Neomeris and these genera previously segregated in own subfamily.

Information contributed by: L.B. Liddle. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2023-08-22 by Luka Sato.

Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

Gender: This genus name is currently treated as feminine.

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Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in CD format. These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above. The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.

Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.

Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=40979

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
Luka Sato in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 22 August 2023. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 26 April 2024