Contemporary taxonomic perspectives of fossil Coralline Red Algae: their possible origin and evolution

Abstract

Studies done by various phycologists have brought about remarkable changes in the present-day coralline algal taxonomy. The taxonomy of fossil coralline red algae also has been under the process of continuous revision and modification since 1993. Prior to 1993 it was believed that several diagnostic characters used in recent coralline red algae were unpreservable in fossil forms. Palaeoalgologists have now understood the value of unification of taxonomy, for extant and fossil corallines to accurately interpret the phylogeny, palaeoecology and palaeobiogeography. Phylogenetically, the corallines are very important as they represent a major evolutionary line within the red algae as evidenced by anatomical studies on recent forms as well as various studies on gene sequence analysis. The present contribution deals with the remarkable changes that have taken place since 1993 in the taxonomic aspects of fossil coralline algae and the modern trends of research in this context. Presently, an attempt has been made to establish the possible origin and evolution of coralline red algae.