An Application of Phylogenetic Analysis to the Scleractinia: Family Fungiidae

The terminology and principles of phylogenelic analysis (cladism) are briefly discussed. Three myths commonly ascribed to cladism are discussed and dispelled. They are; I) that cladism is completely objective, 2) that complete reliance is placed on evolutionary parsimony, and 3) that fossil evidence is not relevant. A step-by-step procedure is outlined for the phylogenetic analysis of the genera and subgenera of the Fungiidae. The procedure includes: I) construction of a character table, 2) selection of an out-group, 3) polarizing and ordering the character states by out-group comparison, 4) coding the character states, and 5) interpretation of the computer-generated cladogram. The advantages of the cladogram over the previous phytogeny of the Fungiidae (Wells, 1966) are: I) a more reasonable interpretation of the evolution of the subgenera of Fungia, 2) a significantly more parsimonious tree including less homoplasy, 3) an understandable methodology subject to verification and modification, and 4) a better basis for the interpretation of characters. This is the first application of phylogenetic analysis to the Scleractinia and its fourth usage in the Coelenterata.