A REVISED CIRCUMSCRIPTION OF CRYPTOMONAS (CRYPTOPHYCEAE) BASED ON EXAMINATION OF AUSTRALIAN STRAINS

Certain species of the genus Cryptomonas (Cryptophyceae) are re-examined, based on material collected in Australia. Details of the structure of the lectotype species, in Australia. Details of the structure of the lectotype species, Cryptomonas ovata Ehrenberg, are reviewed, and the genus is redefined accordingly. Five other selected species that have previously been assigned to Cryptomonas are examined, one freshwater and four marine, and it is found that none of these can be referred to Cryptomonas in its revised state. Consequently, four new genera are proposed (Campylomonas gen. nov., Teleaulax gen. nov., Storeatula gen. nov. and Geminigera gen. nov.); the transfer of Cryptomonas stigmatica Wislouch to Rhodomonas is also proposed. The present, more restricted circumscription of Cryptomonas is discussed, and it is suggested that the large number of species currently assigned to the genus should be reduced considerably.