[Coral-List] Coral nomenclature
Judith Lang/Lynton Land
JandL at rivnet.net
Wed Jan 28 15:39:47 EST 2004
Thanks to Dr. Vassil Zlatarski for his contribution to this discussion.
For those of us behind the scenes who have been saying it is time for a
bright student to reconsider Stephanocoenia with skeletal
morphometrics, molecules, soft tissues and ecology (including
transplantations), etc., this is a good reminder to remember to include
the "intermediates."
Judy
On Jan 28, 2004, at 2:45 PM, Louis Florit wrote:
> Message forwarded from Mr. Vassil Zlatarski. Please send comments or
> suggestions to him at vzlatarski at yahoo.com
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Posting
> Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2004 11:15:33 -0800 (PST)
> From: vassil zlatarski <vzlatarski at yahoo.com>
>
> [Coral List] coral nomenclature/taxonomy Stephanocoenia
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> The Stephanocoenia nomenclature question went to taxonomy, so permit
> me to touch both areas.
>
> The Cuban and Yucatan scleractinians offered invaluable information
> about the variability of this genus. In the book on Cuban
> Scleractinia (1980 – Russian and 1982 – French) the taxonomic decision
> was based on underwater observations and laboratory study of 164
> colonies. Their variability was described and illustrated (1982:
> p.132-136, pl. 46, 47). The Cuban material contains not only plocoid
> and subcerioid, but even cerioid (Idem. pl. 47, fig.3) colonies and
> many gradual transitions between them. What is more intriguing is
> that there are colonies showing in their different parts more than one
> of these morphologies. For example, specimen #681, station 162,
> transect 6, Km.14, Matanzas, depth 18-20m. is both, plocoid and
> cerioid. For such cases of intra-colonial variability was introduced
> the term bimorphic colony (1982, Chapter 3 – Variabilité et taxonomie,
> p. 16). On the other hand concerning the inter-colonial variability,
> the series of coralla showing gradual morphological transition between
> two taxa were called morphological bridges (Idem. p.18). I am kindly
> offering all this detailed information, because the Cuban material was
> not only described and illustrated, but fortunately after three
> decades preserved. One inventory last year showed that 80% of all
> collection, object of the mentioned book, is curated in Instituto de
> Oceanología, Havana. The specimen #681 was present. I agree that it
> is easier to approach typologically and identify only what is possible
> with the described species. By doing this we operate with only part
> of the existing morphologies and use the “clear”or “good” specimens.
> Unfortunately, many colonies do not “fit” in the “drawers” of the
> named taxa. How to deal with them? Closing the eyes we are ignoring
> the variability and our species recede further and further from the
> reality.
>
> About the synonimization of S. michelinii. It was done before 1987,
> which year was mentioned previously in the Coral-List. In the book of
> 1980 and 1982 five species, including michelinii, entered in the
> synonymy of S. intersepta.
>
> My struggle to understand a little bit better the nature of the
> scleractinian species began in 1955 with fossil corals. Presently I
> am trying to catch up with the existing worldwide literature on coral
> species and update my notion by using a holistic approach. It is
> exiting issue, but we have to recognize that the nomenclature and the
> taxonomy of the Caribbean scleractinians are not doing well and they
> are strongly appealing for updated studies, working with all existing
> knowledge and material, for discussions and intercolleguial efforts.
> The Coral List is good place to start. I will be very glad to
> dedicate efforts for efficient coordinated work.
>
> Vassil Zlatarski
>
> 131 Fales Rd,
>
> Bristol, RI 02809, USA
>
> Phone: +1 401 254 5121
>
> e-mail: vzlatarski at yahoo.com
>
>
>
> 131 Fales Rd., Bristol, RI 02809, USA; tel.: +1-401-254-5121
>
>
>
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