著者

深見 裕伸

出版者

日本動物分類学会

雑誌

タクサ : 日本動物分類学会誌 (ISSN:13422367)

巻号頁・発行日

no.22, pp.55-62, 2007-02-20

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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.