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Name derivation:

 

Classification:

Basicladia W.E.Hoffmann & Tilden, 1930;  4 of 8 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2014).

Order Cladophorales;  Family Pithophoraceae

The green algal genus Basicladia W. E. Hoffman & Tilden suggested for synonymy in Cladophora Kütz. by van den Hoek is reconfirmed as a genus based on the distinct basal system and the primarily epizoic habit associated with freshwater turtles (Garbary 2010).

 

 

Morphology:

Green sparsely-branched trichome found on the dorsal carapace of aquatic turtles. Any branches are mainly near the basal cell, itself attached to the turtle shell by a "holdfast" of cells and a cement. Cells in the upright trichomes become wider and shorter toward the apex.

Similar genera:

 

Habitat:

Attached to the shells of turtles and some snails; occasionally other hard substrates.

Basicladia emedii sp. nov. is described based on material from six streams in Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul States of Brazil.  This is the second species of Basicladia recorded from South America. The new species is distinguished based on small filaments with short and wide basal cells of upright axes. It is the second of six species with an epilithic habit and is not associated with either snail shells or turtle carapaces Peres and Branco 2012).

 

Citing Phycokey:

Baker, A.L. et al.  .  Phycokey -- an image based key to Algae (PS Protista), Cyanobacteria, and other aquatic objects. University of New Hampshire Center for Freshwater Biology. http://cfb.unh.edu/phycokey/phycokey.htm

 

References:

Garbary, D.J.  2010.  Taxonomy of Basicladia (Cladophorales, Chlorophyta) with Two New Combinations.  Missouri Botanical Garden Press 20(1): 38-40.

Guiry, M.D. and G.M. Guiry  2014.  AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 30 May  2014.

Peres, C.,K and C.C.Z. Branco 2012.  Basicladia emedii (Cladophorales, Chlorophyta): A New Freshwater Epilithic Species from Brazil.  Cryptogamie, Algologie 33(4): 329-337.