New species of Koralionastes (Ascomycotina) from the Caribbean and Australia

Abstract

Koralionastes giganteus Kohlm. & Volkm.-Kohlm. sp.nov. is described from subtidal coral slabs of back reefs of two small islands off the coast of Belize, Central America. Koralionastes violaceus Kohlm. & Volkm.-Kohlm. sp.nov. occurs on an island of the Great Barrier Reef, off the Queensland (Australia) coast, and is the first record of the genus outside of the Caribbean. All five Koralionastes species are associated with crustaceous sponges. Key words: Koralionastes, Koralionastes giganteus, Koralionastes violaceus, marine fungi, ascomycetes, corals, sponges.