Restructuring the Traditional Suborders in the Order Scleractinia Based on Embryogenetic Morphological...

The order Scleractinia includes two distinct groups, which are termed "complex" and "robust" as indicated by the molecular phylogeny of mitochondrial 16S ribosomal gene sequences. Since this discovery, coral taxonomists have been seeking morphological characters for grouping this deep division in the order Scleractinia. Recently, morphological characteristics during embryogenesis that facilitate grouping the two clades as "complex" and "robust" were reported, thus clarifying a deep division in the Scleractinia. In the present report, I establish two new suborders, Refertina and Vacatina, on the basis of the embryogenetic morphological characteristics, molecular data, and new observations of Tubastraea coccinea and Cyphastrea serailia embryogenesis. In particular, the embryo of T. coccinea has a possible fertilization membrane that was first observed in the phylum Cnidaria. The new suborder Refertina consists of the families that belong to the "complex" clade and have no or little blastocoel. The new suborder Vacatina is composed of the families that fall into the "robust" clade and have an apparent blastocoel.