Phylogeny and Taxonomy of the Zooxanthellate Scleractinian Corals : Collaboration between Molecular Phylogenetic Analyses and Morphological Based Taxonomy

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  • Fukami Hironobu
    Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University

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  • 造礁性イシサンゴ類(キクメイシ亜目)の分類・系統 : 分子系統解析と形態分類の調和
  • ゾウショウセイ イシサンゴルイ キクメイシ アモク ノ ブンルイ ケイトウ ブンシ ケイトウ カイセキ ト ケイタイ ブンルイ ノ チョウワ

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Abstract

Taxonomy based on skeletal morphology of the scleractinian corals, especially zooxanthellate corals, is problematic because of the limited number of key characters, their plasticity, and possible morphological convergence. Recently several molecular analyses have been conducted, the controversial results of which compared with the morphological taxonomy. These molecular studies contain several problems. This paper briefly reviews the problems of traditional taxonomy and molecular-based phylogeny, and discusses the recent molecular work, mainly molecular analyses of the subfamily Faviina. Phylogenetic relationships based on the molecular analyses of species in the Faviina did not support the present morphological taxonomy, but fit the geographical distribution, suggesting morphological convergence, and the mode of reproduction. Furthermore, it was found in some cases that phylogenetically closely related species share several morphological characters that were used in past studies, but not used in the current taxonomy. In conclusion, this paper proposes one way to utilize both the morphological taxonomy and molecular analyses in the scleractinian corals.

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