ABSTRACT Using an integrated taxonomic approach, DNA sequencing of field-collected and historical type specimens, as well as morpho-anatomical characters and species’ ecology and biogeography, we reassessed the single-most ecologically important non-geniculate coralline algal genus, Spongites, in South Africa. DNA sequences (psbA, rbcL) from type and recently collected specimens formed well-supported clades within Chamberlainoideae, all aligning closer to the generitype of Chamberlainium, C. tumidum, than to the generitype of Spongites, S. fruticulosus (Neogoniolithoideae, Corallinales). Nine species of Chamberlainoideae are now confirmed for South Africa, eight in Chamberlainium and one in Pneophyllum. South African specimens called Spongites discoideus and S. yendoi, both with type localities far removed from South Africa, Argentina and Japan, respectively, are not those species. The latter species had included seven cryptic to pseudocryptic species. We describe the most ecologically important of these species, Chamberlainium cochleare sp. nov., as well as resurrect Lithophyllum natalense, and transfer both it and Spongites impar to Chamberlainium. Additionally, we argue that within the monophyletic Corallinales it is premature to elevate subfamilies to families when several subfamilies have no distinguishing morpho-anatomical characters. Furthermore, some morpho-anatomical characters that have been proposed to distinguish subfamilies vary even within a single subfamily.

中文翻译：

---

将一些南非物种重新分配给 Chamberlainium，并评论了珊瑚目（红藻）科的识别

摘要使用综合分类学方法、实地采集和历史类型标本的 DNA 测序，以及形态解剖特征和物种的生态学和生物地理学，我们重新评估了在生态学上最重要的非膝状珊瑚藻属海绵藻属。南非。来自类型和最近收集的标本的 DNA 序列 (psbA, rbcL) 在 Chamberlainoideae 内形成了良好支持的进化枝，所有这些都更接近于 Chamberlainium, C. tumidum 的属型，而不是与 Spongites, S. fruticulosus (Neogoniolithoideae, Corallinales) 的属型。现已确认南非有 9 种 Chamberlainoidaeae，Chamberlainium 有 8 种，Pneophyllum 有 1 种。南非标本被称为 Spongites discoideus 和 S.endoi，两者的类型地点都远离南非、阿根廷和日本，分别，不是那些物种。后一种物种包括七个隐秘到假隐秘物种。我们描述了这些物种中最具生态重要性的物种，Chamberlainium cochleare sp。11 月，以及复活 Lithophyllum natalense，并将它和 Spongites 转移到 Chamberlainium。此外，我们认为在单系珊瑚目内，当几个亚科没有明显的形态解剖特征时，将亚科提升为科为时过早。此外，一些已被提议用于区分亚科的形态解剖特征甚至在单个亚科内也有所不同。以及复活 Lithophyllum natalense，并将它和 Spongites 都转移到 Chamberlainium。此外，我们认为在单系珊瑚目内，当几个亚科没有明显的形态解剖特征时，将亚科提升为科为时过早。此外，一些已被提议用于区分亚科的形态解剖特征甚至在单个亚科内也会发生变化。以及复活 Lithophyllum natalense，并将它和 Spongites 都转移到 Chamberlainium。此外，我们认为在单系珊瑚目内，当几个亚科没有明显的形态解剖特征时，将亚科提升为科为时过早。此外，一些已被提议用于区分亚科的形态解剖特征甚至在单个亚科内也有所不同。