On the present status of coralline red alga Archaeolithothamnium Roth. from India

Abstract

During the last few years the studies on the extant and fossil algae by different palaeoalgologists have indicated that both the genera Archaeolithothamnium Rothpletz and Sporolithon Heydrich belonging to Corallinaceae of Rhodophyta are synonymous. According to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, Sporolithon has priority over Archaeolithothamnium. In the present paper classification, synonymy, nomenclature and priority of the taxa have been discussed and accordingly all the species of Archaeolithothamnium Roth, described so far from India have been transferred to Sporolithon Heydrich.