A new subtropical bangiophyte, Pseudobangia ginnyae sp. nov . (Rhodophyta, Bangiaceae), formerly considered Bangia fuscopurpurea in Bermuda

A new bangiophytespecies, Pseudobangia ginnyae sp. nov. is described from the subtropical islands of Bermuda joining P. kaycoleae from the British Virgin Islands and P. corderoi from the Philippines in this apparent warm water genus. Historically, the new species was known in Bermuda as the ‘cosmopolitan’ Bangia fuscopurpurea, but after a phylogenetic comparison using 18S rRNA and rbcL genes with a host of worldwide filamentous bangiophytes, it was shown to nest in a clade with the generitype of Pseudobangia, P. kaycoleae. Morphological characteristics of the new species demonstrate great overlap with its two known congeners, but some character range differences, seasonal growth temperatures and narrow biogeographies, along with genetic differences, are useful in distinguishing these pseudocryptic species.