Corallinapetrales and Corallinapetraceae: A new order and family of coralline red algae including <i>Corallinapetra gabrielii</i> comb. nov.

The coralline algal genus Corallinapetra is currently monospecific and was established on the species novaezelandiae, known from a single collection north-eastern New Zealand. On basis of multi-gene phylogenetic analyses, has been resolved apart all recognized families orders within Corallinophycidae. We analyzed DNA sequence data holotype Lithothamnion gabrielii, which considered heterotypic synonym L. muelleri, an unidentified sample collected Stewart Island in Zealand, using psbA, rbcL, COI-5P genes. also observed detailed morpho-anatomical characters with light scanning electron microscopy. Our analyses showed that gabrielii Zealand belonged to same clade as Corallinapetra, distinct other Members this are distinguishable Corallinophycidae by possessing sporangia surrounded remnant sterile filaments weakly calcified mature multiporate sporangial conceptacles produce zonately divided tetrasporangia. Therefore, we propose be placed its own family, Corallinapetraceae order, Corallinapetrales, should assigned C. reflect their relationships. obtained partial rbcL lectotype generitype Lithothamnion. Comparison muelleri type unambiguously demonstrated these two not conspecific, confirm placement Hapalidiales.