New records and observations of marine algae from Morocco (Eastern Atlantic Ocean)

ABSTRACT In the present paper, three algal species are recorded for the first time from Morocco: the two red algae Antithamnion villosum and Antithamnionella ternifolia and the green alga Lychaete rhodolithicola. Furthermore, two other red algae species are recorded for the first time from the Moroccan Atlantic coast and this part of the eastern Atlantic Ocean: Antithamnion amphigeneum and Antithamnionella boergesenii. Descriptions of these newly reported species are provided accompanied by photographs for each species. In addition, new observations and taxonomic remarks for some species are also provided. The green alga Lychaete rhodolithicola has a limited distribution in the North-eastern Atlantic Ocean of Europe, and the report of this species from Morocco extends the distribution of this species, because it is the first record of this species in Africa and outside Europe. This is one of the rare documentations with description and illustrations of L. rhodolithicola. The foliose species Grateloupia turuturu is studied in detail; it has been widely misidentified as G. doryphora. An examination of all specimens going under the name G. doryphora in the Moroccan herbaria has determined these specimens to be Grateloupia turuturu. An identification key for all Moroccan species of Antithamnion, Antithamnionella and Lychaete is presented.