Reassessment of the genus <i>Lophurella</i> (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta) from Australia and New Zealand reveals four cryptic species
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Cryptic diversity is common in the red algae and is often discovered when comparing specimens from distant locations or different morphotypes of species with high phenotypic plasticity. The genus <i>Lophurella</i> includes seven species from the cold-temperate coasts of the southern hemisphere. <i>L. periclados</i> is the only species reported from Australia where two morphotypes were identified in relation to levels of wave exposure. In New Zealand, three species of <i>Lophurella</i> have been reported – the endemic <i>L. caespitosa</i> (type locality Parimahu, North Island of New Zealand), <i>L. hookeriana</i> (type locality Cape Horn, South America) and <i>L. periclados</i>. We reassessed species diversity of <i>Lophurella</i> in Australia and New Zealand with the aim of determining (1) whether New Zealand and South American specimens of <i>L. hookeriana</i> actually represent a single species, and (2) if the morphotypes of <i>L. periclados</i> mask cryptic diversity. We studied <i>rbc</i>L sequences and morphological features of 36 specimens identified as <i>L. periclados</i>, one specimen of <i>L. caespitosa</i>, and five samples of <i>L. hookeriana</i>, three from New Zealand and two from Cape Horn. Molecular analyses revealed that <i>L. hookeriana</i> from New Zealand and South America are distinct species and the new species <i>L. pauciramulosa</i> is described from New Zealand. <i>L. periclados</i> is a complex involving four species and we propose three new species, <i>L. mutabilis, L. nigra</i> and <i>L. tasmanica</i>. Cryptic diversity in <i>L. periclados</i> did not align with the previously defined ecotypes and several species were often found at the same site. <i>L. periclados, L. nigra</i> and <i>L. tasmanica</i> can be distinguished by morphological characters. Conversely, <i>L. mutabilis</i> has high morphological plasticity, with characters that overlap with <i>L. periclados</i> and <i>L. nigra</i>, and can only be distinguished by DNA sequences.
