Systematic studies of the Antarctic species of the Phyllophoraceae (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) based on rbcL sequence analysis

Parsimony analysis of rbcL sequence indicates that Gymnogongrus antarcticus and Gymnogongrus turquetii cluster in a clade consisting predominantly of southern hemisphere species currently placed in Gymnogongrus and Ahnfeltiopsis, whereas Phyllophora ahnfeltioides and Phyllophora antarctica cluster in a separate clade that is widely divergent from the northern hemisphere Phyllophora clade.

Result from molecular and morphological data challenge the current taxonommic concept that type of life history is a phylogenetically valid criterion for recognition of genera in the Phyllophoraceae.