Diagnostic characters in fossil coralline algae (Corallinophycidae: Rhodophyta) from the Miocene of southern Moravia (Carpathian Foredeep, Czech Republic)

Fourteen coralline algal species (Corallinales, Sporolithales) from Early Langhian (Lower Badenian) red-algal limestones of the Carpathian Foredeep (Czech Republic) are described: <i>Sporolithon lvovicum</i> (Maslov) Bassi <i>et al</i>., <i>Lithothamnion roveretoi</i> Airoldi, <i>Lithothamnion moretii</i> Lemoine, ?<i>Lithothamnion</i> sp. 1, ?<i>Lithothamnion</i> sp. 2, <i>Mesophyllum alternans</i> (Foslie) Cabioch &amp; Mendoza, <i>M</i>. cf. <i>erubescens</i> (Foslie) Lemoine, <i>M</i>. cf. <i>printzianum</i> Woelkerling &amp; Harvey, <i>M. curtum</i> Lemoine, <i>Phymatolithon</i> sp., <i>Lithophyllum</i> sp. 1, <i>Lithophyllum</i> sp. 2, <i>Hydrolithon lemoinei</i> (Miranda) Aguirre <i>et al</i>. and <i>Spongites fruticulosa</i> Kützing. The characters used in coralline algal species description and identification are summarized and discussed. Five characters newly used in fossil material are associated with the structure and fate of presumed tetrasporangial, gametangial and carposporangial conceptacles, with the shape, size and organization of roof cells, and with the position of the asexuate conceptacles relative to the surrounding thallus surface. Gametangial conceptacles of <i>Phymatolithon</i> and gametangial and carposporangial plants of <i>Sporolithon lvovicum</i> are described for the first time.