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Science 2 February 1996:
Vol. 271. no. 5249, pp. 640 - 642
DOI: 10.1126/science.271.5249.640
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Reports

Evolution of Scleractinian Corals Inferred from Molecular Systematics

Sandra L. Romano (1) and Stephen R. Palumbi

Scleractinian corals have a continuous fossil record from the mid-Triassic, but taxonomic difficulties have impeded an understanding of their evolution. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA showed departures from previous hypotheses of coral evolution. Families clustered into two major groups that do not correspond to morphologically based suborders. These clades differed in their 16S ribosomal DNA sequence by 29.4 percent, which suggests evolutionary divergence before the appearance of scleractinian skeletons 240 million years ago. Together, these fossil and molecular data suggest multiple origins of the scleractinian skeleton, and the great morphological diversity of present-day scleractinians may be a reflection of these multiple origins.


Kewalo Marine Laboratory and Department of Zoology, University of Hawaii, 41 Ahui Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA.
(1) To whom correspondence should be addressed. Present address: Laboratory of Molecular Systematics, MRC-534, MSC, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
A Cretaceous Scleractinian Coral with a Calcitic Skeleton.
J. Stolarski, A. Meibom, R. Przenioslo, and M. Mazur (2007)
Science 318, 92-94
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Scleractinian Coral Species Survive and Recover from Decalcification.
M. Fine and D. Tchernov (2007)
Science 315, 1811
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
From the Cover: Naked corals: Skeleton loss in Scleractinia.
M. Medina, A. G. Collins, T. L. Takaoka, J. V. Kuehl, and J. L. Boore (2006)
PNAS 103, 9096-9100
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Phylogenetic Context and Basal Metazoan Model Systems.
A. G. Collins, P. Cartwright, C. S. McFadden, and B. Schierwater (2005)
Integr. Comp. Biol. 45, 585-594
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
PALEOECOLOGICAL AND PHYLOGENETIC IMPLICATIONS OF ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN THE PERMIAN SCLERACTINIAMORPH NUMIDIAPHYLLUM.
(2004)
Journal of Paleontology 78, 84-97
TOWARDS A NEW SYNTHESIS OF EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIPS AND CLASSIFICATION OF SCLERACTINIA.
(2001)
Journal of Paleontology 75, 1090-1108


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)