Meeting Abstract
P3.44 Wednesday, Jan. 6 Molecular and morphological systematics of the precious corals (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Coralliidae) ARDILA, Nestor E*; SANCHEZ, Juan A; Universidad de los Andes, Bogota; Universidad de los Andes, Bogota ne.ardila23@uniandes.edu.co
The intricate evolution of precious corals’ axial characters and the monophyly of Coralliidae’s genera (Corallium Cuvier and Paracorallium Bayer and Cairns) are unanswered aspects of the octocoral phylogeny. The diversity of colonial forms among the various species of coralliids corresponds to the diversity in shape of the supporting axis. The surface of the axis may be smooth, or distinctly marked by narrow longitudinal grooves underlying the coenenchymal canals or in some species additional pits are present. However, Coralliidae phylogenetic relationships are unknown and their taxonomic affinities are confusing. In order to fulfill the information gap about this family, material of the genus Corallium and Paracorallium from New Zealand, Taiwan and elsewhere in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans was revised. The phylogenetic hypotheses using ITS2 sequences and their secondary structures showed two strongly supported clades (using Paragorgia as outgroup). The Corallium clade included C. ducale, C. regale and unidentified species from New Zealand with smooth axis and short cylindrical calyces. The “Paracorallium” clade comprised species with the axis marked by narrow longitudinal grooves and some species with pits, such as P. thrinax, P. tortuosum and P. inutile but Corallium rubrum, the type species of the genus, together with C. niveum and C. kishinouyei were also members of “Paracorallium” clade. In contrast, 16S rRNA hypothesis showed discordance in the resolution of the clades. These phylogenetic results are an important step towards understanding the evolution of morphological features in Coralliidae towards a natural taxonomy of the groups. Although, it is essential to add other mitochondrial and nuclear sequences and to include the remaining species of the group.
