The ancient evolutionary origins of Scleractinia revealed by azooxanthellate corals

Background: Scleractinian corals are currently a focus of major interest because of their ecological importance and the uncertain fate of coral reefs in the face of increasing anthropogenic pressure. Despite this, remarkably little is known about the evolutionary origins of corals. The Scleractinia suddenly appear in the fossil record about 240 Ma, but the range of morphological variation seen in these Middle Triassic fossils is comparable to that of modern scleractinians, implying much earlier origins that have so far remained elusive. A significant weakness in reconstruction(s) of early coral evolution is that deep-sea corals have been poorly represented in molecular phylogenetic analyses

Clone wars:asexual reproduction dominates in the invasive range of Tubastraea spp. (Anthozoa: Scleractinia) in the South-Atlantic Ocean

Although the invasive azooxanthellate corals Tubastraea coccinea and T. tagusensis are spreading quickly and outcompeting native species in the Atlantic Ocean, there is little information regarding the genetic structure and path of introduction for these species. Here we present the first data on genetic diversity and clonal structure from these two species using a new set of microsatellite markers. High proportions of clones were observed, indicating that asexual reproduction has a major role in the local population dynamics and, therefore, represents one of the main reasons for the invasion success. Although no significant population structure was found, results suggest the occurrence of multiple invasions for T. coccinea and also that both species are being transported along the coast by vectors such as oil platforms and monobouys, spreading these invasive species. In addition to the description of novel microsatellite markers, this study sheds new light into the invasive process of Tubastraea.Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel SuperiorFundacao Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de JaneiroConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnologicoFundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao PauloNSF-OA (National Science Foundation)Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Dept Zool, Rio De Janeiro, BrazilUniv Hawaii Manoa, Hawaii Inst Marine Biol, Sch Ocean & Earth Sci & Technol, Kaneohe, HI USACoral Sol Res Technol Dev & Innovat Network, Rio De Janeiro, BrazilUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Inst Microbiol Paulo Goes, Rio De Janeiro, BrazilUniv Estado Rio de Janeiro, Dept Ecol, Rio De Janeiro, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Mar, Santos, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Ctr Biol Marinha, Sao Sebastiao, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Mar, Santos, BrazilCAPES: 1137/2010FAPERJ: E26/010.003031/2014FAPERJ: E26/201.286/2014CNPq: 305330/2010-1FAPESP: 2014/01332-0Web of Scienc

A hybrid-capture approach to reconstruct the phylogeny of Scleractinia (Cnidaria: Hexacorallia)

A well-supported evolutionary tree representing most major lineages of scleractinian corals is in sight with the development and application of phylogenomic approaches. Specifically, hybrid-capture techniques are shedding light on the evolution and systematics of corals. Here, we reconstructed a broad phylogeny of Scleractinia to test previous phylogenetic hypotheses inferred from a few molecular markers, in particular, the relationships among major scleractinian families and genera, and to identify clades that require further research. We analysed 449 nuclear loci from 422 corals, comprising 266 species spanning 26 families, combining data across whole genomes, transcriptomes, hybrid capture and low-coverage sequencing to reconstruct the largest phylogenomic tree of scleractinians to date. Due to the large number of loci and data completeness (less than 38% missing data), node supports were high across shallow and deep nodes with incongruences observed in only a few shallow nodes. The “Robust” and “Complex” clades were recovered unequivocally, and our analyses confirmed that Micrabaciidae Vaughan, 1905 is sister to the “Robust” clade, transforming our understanding of the “Basal” clade. Several families remain polyphyletic in our phylogeny, including Deltocyathiidae Kitahara, Cairns, Stolarski & Miller, 2012, Caryophylliidae Dana, 1846, and Coscinaraeidae Benzoni, Arrigoni, Stefani & Stolarski, 2012, and we hereby formally proposed the family name Pachyseridae Benzoni & Hoeksema to accommodate Pachyseris Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849, which is phylogenetically distinct from Agariciidae Gray, 1847. Results also revealed species misidentifications and inconsistencies within morphologically complex clades, such as Acropora Oken, 1815 and Platygyra Ehrenberg, 1834, underscoring the need for reference skeletal material and topotypes, as well as the importance of detailed taxonomic work. The approach and findings here provide much promise for further stabilising the topology of the scleractinian tree of life and advancing our understanding of coral evolution

A modern scleractinian coral with a two-component calcite–aragonite skeleton

Until now, all of the ca. 1,800 known modern scleractinian coral species were thought to produce skeletons exclusively of aragonite. Asymbiotic Paraconotrochus antarcticus living in the Southern Ocean is the first example of an extant scleractinian that forms a two-component carbonate skeleton, with an inner structure made of high-Mg calcite and an outer structure composed of aragonite. This discovery adds support to the notion that the coral skeletal formation process is strongly biologically controlled. Mitophylogenomic analysis shows that P. antarcticus represents an ancient scleractinian clade, suggesting that skeletal mineralogy/polymorph of a taxon, once established, is a trait conserved throughout the evolution of that clade.One of the most conserved traits in the evolution of biomineralizing organisms is the taxon-specific selection of skeletal minerals. All modern scleractinian corals are thought to produce skeletons exclusively of the calcium-carbonate polymorph aragonite. Despite strong fluctuations in ocean chemistry (notably the Mg/Ca ratio), this feature is believed to be conserved throughout the coral fossil record, spanning more than 240 million years. Only one example, the Cretaceous scleractinian coral Coelosmilia (ca. 70 to 65 Ma), is thought to have produced a calcitic skeleton. Here, we report that the modern asymbiotic scleractinian coral Paraconotrochus antarcticus living in the Southern Ocean forms a two-component carbonate skeleton, with an inner structure made of high-Mg calcite and an outer structure composed of aragonite. P. antarcticus and Cretaceous Coelosmilia skeletons share a unique microstructure indicating a close phylogenetic relationship, consistent with the early divergence of P. antarcticus within the Vacatina (i.e., Robusta) clade, estimated to have occurred in the Mesozoic (ca. 116 Mya). Scleractinian corals thus join the group of marine organisms capable of forming bimineralic structures, which requires a highly controlled biomineralization mechanism; this capability dates back at least 100 My. Due to its relatively prolonged isolation, the Southern Ocean stands out as a repository for extant marine organisms with ancient traits.Mitogenome sequences data have been deposited in GenBank (MT409109). All other study data are included in the article text and supporting information

A Comprehensive Phylogenetic Analysis of the Scleractinia (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) Based on Mitochondrial CO1 Sequence Data

Classical morphological taxonomy places the approximately 1400 recognized species of Scleractinia (hard corals) into 27 families, but many aspects of coral evolution remain unclear despite the application of molecular phylogenetic methods. In part, this may be a consequence of such studies focusing on the reef-building (shallow water and zooxanthellate) Scleractinia, and largely ignoring the large number of deep-sea species. To better understand broad patterns of coral evolution, we generated molecular data for a broad and representative range of deep sea scleractinians collected off New Caledonia and Australia during the last decade, and conducted the most comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analysis to date of the order Scleractinia.Partial (595 bp) sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) gene were determined for 65 deep-sea (azooxanthellate) scleractinians and 11 shallow-water species. These new data were aligned with 158 published sequences, generating a 234 taxon dataset representing 25 of the 27 currently recognized scleractinian families.There was a striking discrepancy between the taxonomic validity of coral families consisting predominantly of deep-sea or shallow-water species. Most families composed predominantly of deep-sea azooxanthellate species were monophyletic in both maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses but, by contrast (and consistent with previous studies), most families composed predominantly of shallow-water zooxanthellate taxa were polyphyletic, although Acroporidae, Poritidae, Pocilloporidae, and Fungiidae were exceptions to this general pattern. One factor contributing to this inconsistency may be the greater environmental stability of deep-sea environments, effectively removing taxonomic "noise" contributed by phenotypic plasticity. Our phylogenetic analyses imply that the most basal extant scleractinians are azooxanthellate solitary corals from deep-water, their divergence predating that of the robust and complex corals. Deep-sea corals are likely to be critical to understanding anthozoan evolution and the origins of the Scleractinia

Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others

Crispatotrochus rubescens

<i>Crispatotrochus rubescens</i> (Moseley, 1881) <p>Plate 1, Figs. A–D, F–G</p> <p> <i>Cyathoceras rubescens</i> Mosely, 1881: 157, pl. 2, figs. 8a–c. — Marenzeller, 1888: 21–22. — Yabe and Eguchi, 1942: 117. — Wells, 1964: 112. — Cairns, 1982: 22. — Cairns, 1984: 5, 15.</p> <p> <i>Cyathoceras tydemani</i> Alcock, 1902a: 93–94; 1902 b: 14, pl. 1, figs. 7, 7a. — Faustino, 1927: 65, pl. 9, figs. 5–6. — Cairns, 1982: 22.</p> <p> <i>Cyathoceras diomedeae</i> Vaughan, 1907: 77–78, pl. 7, figs. 1–2. — Vaughan, 1919: 1917, pl. XIII, figs. 2, 2a. — Yabe and Eguchi, 1942: 116–117, pl. 9, fig. 8. — Vaughan and Wells, 1943: 333, pl. 41, figs. 14, 14a. — Wells, 1964: 112. — Cairns, 1982: 22.</p> <p> <i>Crispatotrochus rubescens</i> — Cairns, 1991: 15; — Cairns, 1994: 22, 51, pl. 22, figs. g–h. — Cairns and Zibrowius, 1997: 103–104, figs. 10a–c. —Cairns, 1999: 76–77. — Cairns <i>et al</i>. 1999: 21. — Cairns, 2004: 265, 279–280.</p> <p> <b>Material examined.</b> Bathus 3 station CP 833, 2 (MNHN-Scl.2008-0041 [1], USNM 1115428 [1]).</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> Corallum ceratoid, elongate, slightly curved, and flared distally. Pedicel robust ranging from 4.2 to 5.5 mm in diameter (PD:GCD = 0.26–0.31), expanding to a thin encrusting base. Largest specimen examined (USNM 1115428) 21 x 16.8 mm in CD and 37.2 mm in height. Costae more prominent (as low ridges) near calicular edge, fading to pedicel. Theca granular. Corallum white.</p> <p>Septa hexamerally arranged in five complete cycles according to formula S1–2>S3>S4>S5, but largest specimen displays some rudimentary S6. S1–2 highly exsert, with sinuous vertical axial edges that fuse to columella. S3 four fifths width of S1–2 with slightly less sinuous inner edges. S4 three fourths width of S3, with less sinuous axial edges. S5 half width of S4. S6, if present, rudimentary and present only at calicular margin. Fossa of moderate depth, containing an elongate columella consisting of 4–9 slender, twisted elements.</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> Among the species of <i>Crispatotrochus</i> that have 5 complete hexamerally arranged septal cycles (<i>C. rubescens</i>, <i>C. foxi</i>, and <i>C. niinoi</i>), all of which occur in temperate Pacific, <i>C. rubescens</i> is distinguished by having sinuous axial septal edges for S1 and S2, and costate theca at least near the calicular margin. One new record reported herein of <i>C. rubescens</i> (USNM 1115428) has 96 rudmentary S6, present only near calicular edge.</p> <p> <b>Type locality.</b> Kai Islands, Banda Sea (5º49’15’’S, 132º14’15’’E), 236 m.</p> <p> <b>Type specimens.</b> According to Cairns (1984) the holotype is lost.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> <i>New Caledonia</i>: 23º02.85’S, 166º58.23’E, 441– 444 m. Elsewhere: <i>Wallis and Futuna</i>; <i>Vanuatu –</i> Tanna; <i>Australia –</i> off Queensland; <i>Philippines</i> –Lubang Island, south of Negros (Bohol Sea), Sulu Archipelago (Sulu Sea); <i>Indonesia</i> – Kai Islands (Banda Sea), south of Tanimbar Islands (Arafura Sea), Sumba (Savu Sea); <i>China</i> – southern Formosa Strait (south China Sea); <i>Japan</i> – Sagami Bay and off Kushimoto (Honshu), Shikoku, and off Koshiki (Kyushu); <i>Hawaii</i> – Maui, Moloka‘i, O‘ahu, and Kaua‘i, and Nihoa, Blank, and Brooks Banks; <i>Christmas Islands</i>; 110– 634 m.</p>Published as part of <i>Kitahara, Marcelo V. & Cairns, Stephen D., 2008, New records of the genus Crispatotrochus (Scleractinia; Caryophylliidae) from New Caledonia, with description of a new species, pp. 59-68 in Zootaxa 1940 (1)</i> on pages 63-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1940.1.6, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5230999">http://zenodo.org/record/5230999</a&gt

Deltocyathus corrugatus Cairns 1999

Deltocyathus corrugatus Cairns, 1999 (Fig. 1G) Deltocyathus corrugatus Cairns, 1999: 98. TYPE MATERIAL. — The holotype is at the NZOI (H 689), and 10 paratypes are deposited at the USNM (94169 [5], and 94170 [5]). TYPE LOCALITY. — 28°54’36’’S, 167°44’12’’E (Norfolk Islands), 390 m. NEW RECORDS. — BATHUS 4, stn DW 898, 8 specimens (MNHN-Scl.2008-0019); stn CP 883, 2 specimens (MNHN-Scl.2008-0020); 1 specimen (USNM 1114161); stn DW 903, 2 specimens (MNHN-Scl.2008-0021); stn CP 885, 1 specimen (MNHN-Scl.2008-0022); stn CP 889, 3 specimens (MNHN-Scl.2008-0023); 3 specimens (USNM 1114162); stn CP 967, 3 specimens (MNHN-Scl.2008-0018). DISTRIBUTION. — New Caledonia waters from 18°59.93’S, 163°13.55’E to 23°02.53’S, 166°58.18’E, including Loyalty Islands (Cairns 1995), 250- 600 m. Previous records: from southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia (Wells 1984) to Norfolk Ridge, New Zealand (Cairns 1995), 73- 390 m. DESCRIPTION Corallum circular. Calice lancetted, lancets correspond to each C3 flanked by C4. Largest specimen examined (BATHUS 3, stn CP 847) 15 mm in calicular diameter and 4.2 mm in height. Corallum usually white but sometimes slightly reddish-brown pigmented. Base flat to slightly convex, having a small scar of previous attachment (during early stages) in centre. All costae well developed. C1-2 more prominent near calicular edge, becoming a row of granules near centre of base. C3 thickest and tallest costae, extending up to 2 mm and normally upturned slightly beyond calicular edge as granulated costal spines. C4 and C3 form a broad three-step ridge. All costae granulated specially near calicular edge, and a small low granule ridge is present beside each C1-2. Septa hexamerally arranged in 4 complete cycles (S1≥S2>S4>S3). S1 independent, extending half distance to columella and bearing a wide lamellar palus, which is often fused to columella. S2 equal to or slightly less wide than S1, also bearing a pali of same size of P1, forming a crown more recessed from columella than the crown formed by P1. S3 smallest septa, bearing the tallest pali which fuse to inner edge of near P2 by a porous lamella. S4 slightly wider than S3, and have a spinose margin. Each S4 fuses the adjacent P3 through a long porous lamella. All pali equal sized (P1 sometimes dimorphic) and septa and palar faces bear pointed granules. Fossa shallow with an elliptical papillose columella. REMARKS See Remarks of D. ornatus.Published as part of Kitahara, Marcelo V. & Cairns, Stephen D., 2009, A revision of the genus Deltocyathus Milne Edwards & Haime, 1848 (Scleractinia, Caryophylliidae) from New Caledonia, with the description of a new species, pp. 233-248 in Zoosystema 31 (2) on pages 243-24

Crispatotrochus Tenison Woods 1879

Genus <i>Crispatotrochus</i> Tenison –Woods, 1878 <p> <i>Crispatotrochus</i> Tenison Woods, 1879: 309. — Cairns, 1991: 15. — Cairns & Parker, 1992: 20. — Cairns, 1994: 22. — Cairns, 1995: 56. — Cairns & Zibrowius, 1997: 103. — Cairns, 1998: 378. —Cairns, 1999: 76.</p> <p> <i>Cyathoceras</i> Moseley, 1881: 156. — Alcock, 1902a, 93. — Alcock, 1902b: 14. — Vaughan, 1907: 77. — Faustino, 1927: 64. – Wells, 1936: 106. — Vaughan & Wells, 1943: 203, 204. — Wells, 1956: F422. — Squires, 1959: 23. —Wells, 1958: 261. — Squires, 1961: 17. — Wells, 1964: 110. — Cairns, 1982: 22. — Cairns, 1984: 15.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis:</b> Corallum solitary, ceratoid to turbinate, and usually attached. Septotheca costate or covered with transverse ridges. Pali absent; columella fascicular composed of discrete, twisted elements.</p> <p> Type species: <i>Crispatotrochus inortatus</i> Tenison –Woods, 1878, by monotypy.</p>Published as part of <i>Kitahara, Marcelo V. & Cairns, Stephen D., 2008, New records of the genus Crispatotrochus (Scleractinia; Caryophylliidae) from New Caledonia, with description of a new species, pp. 59-68 in Zootaxa 1940 (1)</i> on page 62, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1940.1.6, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5230999">http://zenodo.org/record/5230999</a&gt