A molecular survey of red algae collected by technical divers and submersibles from 90 m in the mesophotic zone off the coast of Bermuda revealed three species assignable to the Kallymeniaceae. Two of the species are representative of recently described genera centered in the western Pacific in Australia and New Zealand, Austrokallymenia and Psaromenia and the third from the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic, Nothokallymenia. A phylogenetic analysis of concatenated mitochondrial (COI-5P) and chloroplast (rbcL) genes, as well as morphological characteristics, revealed that two are shown to be new species with distant closest relatives (N. erosa and Psaromenia septentrionalis), while the third represents a deep water western Atlantic species now moved to an Australasian genus (A. westii).

Depth range
90- 90 m

Mesophotic “mentions”
18 x (total of 5371 words)

Classification
* Presents original data
* Reports new species
* Focused on 'mesophotic' depth range

Fields
Taxonomy

Focusgroups
Algae (Macro, Turf and Crustose Coralline)

Locations
Bermuda

Platforms
Manned Submersible
Rebreather