Revisiting the Eastern Mediterranean coast of Egypt reveals new records and non-indigenous macroalgal species

This study conducted a comprehensive examination of various seaweed species from the Mediterranean Coast of Egypt, providing detailed descriptions of new records and introduced species based on their morphological characteristics. The results revealed two previously undocumented species in Egypt, Gigartina pistillata (S.G. Gmelin) Stackhouse and Palmophyllum crassum (Naccari) Rabenhorst, both commonly found in the Mediterranean Sea. Additionally, two red algae Predaea sp. and Callophyllis sp. were reported for the first time in the Eastern Mediterranean. Among non-native species, Codium repens P. Crouan et H. Crouan, a widely distributed green alga in the Red Sea and Indo-Pacific Ocean, is recorded as new in the Mediterranean Sea. Furthermore, the non indigenous brown alga Padina tetrastomatica Hauck has been reported for the first time along the Mediterranean Coast of Egypt.