Leptophytum ferox (Foslie) Y.M.Chamberlain & Keats 1994
Publication Details
Leptophytum ferox (Foslie) Y.M.Chamberlain & Keats 1994: 119, figs 49-95
Published in: Chamberlain, Y.M. & Keats, D.W. (1994). Three melobesioid crustose coralline red algae from South Africa: Leptophytum acervatum (Foslie) comb. nov., L. foveatum sp. nov. and L. ferox (Foslie) comb. nov.. Phycologia 33: 111-133, 105 figs, 2 tables.
Request PDFType Species
The type species (holotype) of the genus Leptophytum is Leptophytum laeve W.H.Adey.
Status of Name
This name is currently regarded as a synonym of Phymatolithon ferox (Foslie) Maneveldt & E.Van der Merwe.
Source of Synonymy
Van der Merwe, E. & Maneveldt, G.W. (2014). The genus Phymatolithon (Hapalidiaceae, Corallinales, Rhodophyta) in South Africa, including species previously ascribed to Leptophytum. South African Journal of Botany 90: 170-192.
Basionym
Lithothamnion ferox Foslie
Type Information
Holotype locality: Natal, South Africa; (Chamberlain & Keats 1994: 119) Holotype: Foslie slide 706. Printz 1929: pl. 4. fig. 9 (as Lithothamnion ): A. Weber van Bosse; no colelction date; no habitat data on type; TRH; B15-2357 (Chamberlain & Keats 1994: 119) Notes: The holotype figured by Printz has been broken into two pieces.
Origin of Species Name
Adjective B (Latin), very thorny, fierce (Stearn 1983).
General Environment
This is a marine species.
Created: 01 January 1998 by M.D. Guiry.
Last updated: 25 February 2024
Verification of Data
Users are responsible for verifying the accuracy of information before use, as noted on the website Content page.
Nomenclatural note
According to Foslie (1908a: 9), the name Lithothamnion falsellum was misapplied to this species by Foslie (1900a: 10-11). Leptophyton ferox (Foslie) Y.M. Chamb. & Keats (John et al., 2004). - (11 May 2006) - G.M. Guiry
Taxonomic note
See Wilkes & Woelkerling (1994) and Adey, Athanasidis & Lebednik (2001). - (11 May 2006) - G.M. Guiry
Habitat note
Occurs from mid-tide level down to at least low spring-tide level, often growing on open rocks but particularly characteristic of shady crevices; it appears to bind turf organisms on sandy substrata in the Cape and often grows on polychaete worm tubes; the thallus surface is frequently heavily grazed (Chamberlain & Keats 1994: 121). - (08 April 2010) - G.M. Guiry
Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=2153
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 25 February 2024. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 30 May 2025
