Amphiroa is a genus of thalloid red algae under the family Corallinaceae.
Taxonomy and nomenclature Amphiroa was first described by Jean Vincent Félix Lamouroux in 1812 with the type species for the genus being Amphiroa tribulus. This genus was named after Amphiro, a sea nymph in the epic poem of Theogony by the Greek poet Hesiod. There are currently 72 accepted species names for this genus.
Morphology Amphiroa is composed of an erect thallus that is attached to the substrate with an insconspicous crustose base, and possess mature branches differentiated into alternating areas calcified intergenicula and uncalcified genicula that is composed of more than cell layer and does not exhibit any dimerous flange-like branches. Specimens can reach around 30 cm in size. The thalli take a crustose form; dichotomous branches are formed. The organisms possess secondary pit connections. Amphiroa reproduces by means of conceptacles; it produces tetraspores. Its pore canals are lined with parallel filaments; the morphology of the pore canal is a key trait used to delineate species within the genus.
Distribution Amphiroa is a cosmopolitan genus inhabiting the tropics up to the temperate regions.
Ecology This genus is found from the intertidal down to the subtidal areas of the reef.
Life history Amphiroa exhibit a triphasic life cycle, however, their tetrasporangia, spermatangia, and carposporangia are borne out of a specialized organ called a conceptacle. This triphasic cycle involves the production of tetraspores (N) from the tetrasporophyte (2N) and the subsequent development of the tetraspores into either the male or female gametophyte (N); the resulting spermatium produced by the male gametophyte is later on trapped by the trichogyne of the female gametophyte leading to their eventual fusion and development of the carposporophyte (2N); the cycle is complete when the carpospores (2N) are released and develops into the next set of tetrasporophytes.
Exploitation, harvesting, and cultivation Amphiroa species are unpalatable due to its thallus being highly calcified, and thus there is no immediate cultivation and use for the seaweed.
Chemical composition and natural products chemistry Amphiroa contains several bioactive compounds similar to other seaweeds, for example, the ellagic acid, gallic acid, and phenolic compounds within A. anceps has shown to be a potential anti-fungal agent, moreover, the addition of A. fragilissima polysaccharides have shown to improve the gut of farmed shrimp.
Utilization and management This genus is currently not being utilized and managed on a commercial scale due to a lack of culture technology.
Species
The valid species that are currently considered belonging to this genus are the following:AlgaeBase
Amphiroa anastomosans Weber Bosse Amphiroa anceps (Lamarck) Decaisne Amphiroa annobonensis Pilger Amphiroa annulata Me.Lemoine Amphiroa articulata (Bory) Athanasiadis Amphiroa beauvoisii J.V.Lamouroux Amphiroa bowerbankii Harvey Amphiroa brasiliana Decaisne Amphiroa breviarticulata Areschoug Amphiroa canaliculata G.Martens Amphiroa capensis Areschoug Amphiroa compressa M.Lemoine Amphiroa crassa J.V.Lamouroux Amphiroa crosslandii M.Lemoine Amphiroa crustiformis E.Y.Dawson Amphiroa cryptarthrodia Zanardini Amphiroa cumingii Montagne Amphiroa currae Ganesan Amphiroa dimorpha Me.Lemoine Amphiroa echigoensis Yendo Amphiroa ephedraea (Lamarck) Decaisne Amphiroa exilis Harvey Amphiroa foliacea J.V.Lamouroux Amphiroa fragilissima (Linnaeus) J.V.Lamouroux Amphiroa franciscana W.R.Taylor Amphiroa galapagensis W.R.Taylor Amphiroa gracilis Harvey Amphiroa hancockii W.R.Taylor Amphiroa howensis A.H.S.Lucas Amphiroa irregularis Kützing Amphiroa itonoi Srimanobhas & Masaki Amphiroa klochkovana A.S.Harvey, W.J.Woelkerling & A.J.K.Millar Amphiroa kuetzingiana Trevisan Amphiroa magdalenensis E.Y.Dawson Amphiroa maletractata Simonsen Amphiroa minutissima W.R.Taylor Amphiroa misakiensis Yendo Amphiroa nodularia (Pallas) Decaisne Amphiroa nodulosa Kützing Amphiroa pacifica Kützing Amphiroa peruana Areschoug ex W.R.Taylor Amphiroa polymorpha M.Lemoine Amphiroa prefragilissima Me.Lemoine Amphiroa pusilla Yendo Amphiroa rigida J.V.Lamouroux Amphiroa rubra (Philippi) Woelkerling Amphiroa setacea Kützing Amphiroa subcylindrica E.Y.Dawson Amphiroa taylorii E.Y.Dawson Amphiroa tribulus (J.Ellis & Solander) J.V.Lamouroux - type Amphiroa ungulata Montagne & Millardet Amphiroa valonioides Yendo Amphiroa vanbosseae Me.Lemoine Amphiroa yendoi Børgesen Amphiroa yendoi De Toni
References
External links
Images of Amphiroa at Algaebase