A Taxonomic Reappraisal of Montipora Digitata Based on Genetic and Morphometric Evidence

利用遺傳與形態測量的證據重新評估指表孔珊瑚的分類

Ben Stobart

《Zoological Studies》 39卷3期 (2000/07) Pp. 179-190

摘要

近來有關生殖的研究證明兩型的指表孔珊瑚應用兩個不同的種。本研究檢驗珊瑚分類所用的骨骼形態特徵，並進一步為這兩種正名。以單變量與多變量的方法分析五個骨骼特徵，顯示二者在形態上的確具有差別。但是數據分析時的重疊性使得這兩種分析方法並不適用於物種的鑑定。進一步分析隔片則發現其形狀具有種別性。以隔片的形狀檢驗博物館的模式標本，顯示這兩個物種分別為指表孔珊瑚與扭表孔珊瑚。本研究強調以多種技術從事珊瑚分類的可行性，而且不同技術之間可作交叉檢驗，以減少錯誤結論的產生。

關鍵字

珊瑚 ； 表孔珊瑚 ； 分類 ； 形態測量學

並列摘要

Recent molecular and reproductive studies have demonstrated that 2 morphs of Montipora digitata are different species. In this study, skeletal morphology was examined to determine whether the species can be identified using traditional taxonomic methods, and to establish suitable names for the species. Univariate and multivariate analyses based on 5 skeletal characters revealed that the 2 species do differ in morphology. However, overlap of these characters renders them unsuitable for species identification. A further character, septal shape, was found to be species specific. Examination of museum speciments using septal shape to distinguish the species revealed that the 2 species correspond to the holotypes for M. digitata (Dana 1846) and M. tortuosa (Dana 1846). This study highlights the usefulness of a multipletechnique approach to coral taxonomy, with each alternative technique acting as a test for the other, which reduces the chance of an erroneous conclusion.

並列關鍵字

Coral ； Montipora ； Taxonomy ； Morphometrics