Abstract
Recent molecular phylogenetic analyses of scleractinian corals have resulted in the discovery of cryptic lineages. To understand species diversity in corals, these lineages need to be taxonomically defined. In the present study, we report the discovery of a distinct lineage obscured by the traditional morphological variation of Fungia fungites. This taxon exists as two distinct morphs: attached and unattached. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using mitochondrial COI and nuclear ITS markers as well as morphological comparisons were performed to clarify their phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic positions. Molecular data revealed that F. fungites consists of two genetically distinct clades (A and B). Clade A is sister to a lineage including Danafungia scruposa and Halomitra pileus, while clade B formed an independent lineage genetically distant from these three species. The two morphs were also found to be included in both clades, although the attached morph was predominantly found in clade A. Morphologically, both clades were statistically different in density of septal dentation, septal number, and septal teeth shape. These results indicate that F. fungites as presently recognized is actually a species complex including at least two species. After checking type specimens, we conclude that specimens in clade A represent true F. fungites with two morphs (unattached and attached) and that all of those in clade B represent an unknown species and genus comprising an unattached morph with only one exception. These findings suggest that more unrecognized taxa with hitherto unnoticed morphological differences can be present among scleractinian corals.
Highlights
Over the last two decades, molecular phylogenetic and subsequent morphological analyses have been applied to scleractinian corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) to infer phylogenetic relationships and to revise their taxonomy (Fukami et al, 2008; Budd et al, 2012; Huang et al, 2014a, b; Kitahara et al, 2016)
Each of D. scruposa and H. pileus formed an independent clade between clades A and B, forming sister clades with clade A
Danafungia scruposa and H. pileus were phylogenetically positioned between two clades A and B, forming sister clades with clade A, as in the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) tree
Summary
Over the last two decades, molecular phylogenetic and subsequent morphological analyses have been applied to scleractinian corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) to infer phylogenetic relationships and to revise their taxonomy (Fukami et al, 2008; Budd et al, 2012; Huang et al, 2014a, b; Kitahara et al, 2016). Some genera (e.g., Blastomussa, Nemenzophyllia, Pachyseris, Plerogyra) had to be removed from their families and were temporarily placed in Scleractinia incertae sedis (Benzoni et al, 2014; Terraneo et al, 2014; Hoeksema & Cairns, 2019a). In many of these cases, new genera and species were described when their phylogenetic relationships were clearly different by using mitochondrial markers such as cytochrome oxidase I (COI), cytochrome b, and 16S rRNA. COI, which is known to have relatively little intraspecific variation (Huang et al, 2008), is commonly used in corals and shown to be especially effective for estimating phylogenetic relationships at the family and genus levels
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