Lithophyllum

Lithophyllum Temporal range: Silurian – Recent 418.7–0.0 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Perithallus Hypothallus Underlying rock Undersurface of Lithophyllum orbiculatum, showing hypothallus and perithallus
Scientific classification
(unranked):	Archaeplastida
Division:	Rhodophyta
Class:	Florideophyceae
Order:	Corallinales
Family:	Corallinaceae
Subfamily:	Lithophylloideae
Genus:	Lithophyllum Philippi, 1837
Species.
107 species, see text.
Synonyms
Hyperantherella Heydrich, 1900 Lithothamnium R.A.Philippi, 1837 Melobesia Heydrich, 1897 Perispermon Heydrich, 1900 (synonym) Pseudolithophyllum Marie Lemoine, 1913 Stichospora Heydrich, 1900 Tenarea Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1832

107 species, see text.

Lithophyllum is a genus of thalloid red algae belonging to the family Corallinaceae.

This genus is known in the fossil record from the Silurian to the Quaternary (from about 418.7 to 0.0 million years ago). Fossils of species within this genus have been found in Europe, United States, South America, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, India, Japan and Australia.

The monomerous, crustose thalli are composed of a single system of filaments which grow close to the underlying surface. Lithophyllum reproduces by means of conceptacles. The epithallus is periodically shed to avoid organisms growing on top of the alga.

The valid species currently considered to belong to this genus are: