Biodiversity of Hawaiian Peyssonneliales (Rhodophyta): Sonderophycus copusii sp. nov., a new species from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

A new species of red algae, Sonderophycus copusii, has been discovered in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, specifically at Kure Atoll. This finding represents the first record of the genus Sonderophycus in Hawaii and highlights its distinct morphological traits, such as secondary perithallial growth and unique rhizoid emergence patterns. The discovery was made through mesophotic surveys of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument using both morphological and molecular analyses, including mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and chloroplast rbcL DNA sequencing. S. copusii was identified as a dominant member of the algal community at Kure Atoll, suggesting its potential ecological significance in deep-water benthic ecosystems. This study underscores the unexplored biodiversity of Peyssonneliales in Hawaii and emphasizes the need for further exploration of mesophotic depths to uncover additional species.

Sherwood, A. R., Paiano, M. O., Spalding, H. L., & Kosaki, R. K. (2020). Biodiversity of Hawaiian Peyssonneliales (Rhodophyta): Sonderophycus copusii sp. nov., a new species from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Algae, 35(2), 145–155. https://doi.org/10.4490/algae.2020.35.5.20