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Slat is a good example of the validity/invalidity and revised status of a coral.
This stony coral was originally described as Madrepora conferta Quelch, 1886.
Brook (1893, p. 109) questioned the validity of Slat (Quelch, 1886) and pointed out that the only feature distinguishing this species from Acropora hyacinthus is the shape of the colony.
Wells (1954) considered Acropora conferta to be valid and extended its distribution to most of the Pacific Ocean and possibly also to the Indian Ocean.
TF Goreau (1959) described Acropora conferta as an “important Pacific reef-building coral.”
Veron and Wallace (1984) equated Acropora conferta with Acropora hyacinthus, arguing that the morphology of the holotype of Acropora conferta (NHM 1885.2.1.12) falls within the range of variation of Acropora hyacinthus.
Note from the recent paper “The tables have turned: taxonomy, systematics and biogeography of the Acropora hyacinthus (Scleractinia: Acroporidae) complex”
Although our specimens of Acropora conferta resemble some specimens of Acropora hyacinthus, molecular analysis of topotypes from Fiji suggests that they are two different species:
Acropora conferta belongs to the HD clade, while Acropora hyacinthus belongs to the HA clade of molecular phylogeny.
Although they are similar in morphology, the species can be distinguished by the length of their terminal branches, which reach only 10 mm in Acropora conferta and up to 25 mm in Acropora hyacinthus. We are therefore removing Acropora conferta from the synonymy of Acropora hyacinthus.
Quelch's initial description indicates that the branches are very close together, which is also evident in the photo of the species from Fiji.
The first description of the stony coral was based on a specimen from a collection.
Information on water depth and thus exact water temperatures is not known.
It will certainly take some time before new in situ photos of Acropora conferta can be shown; until then, we will unfortunately have to “live” with the coral skeleton shown here.
Synonyms:
Acropora (Polystachys) conferta (Quelch, 1886) · unaccepted > superseded combination
Madrepora (Polystachys) conferta Quelch, 1886 · unaccepted > superseded combination
Madrepora conferta Quelch, 1886 · unaccepted > superseded combination (basionym)
This stony coral was originally described as Madrepora conferta Quelch, 1886.
Brook (1893, p. 109) questioned the validity of Slat (Quelch, 1886) and pointed out that the only feature distinguishing this species from Acropora hyacinthus is the shape of the colony.
Wells (1954) considered Acropora conferta to be valid and extended its distribution to most of the Pacific Ocean and possibly also to the Indian Ocean.
TF Goreau (1959) described Acropora conferta as an “important Pacific reef-building coral.”
Veron and Wallace (1984) equated Acropora conferta with Acropora hyacinthus, arguing that the morphology of the holotype of Acropora conferta (NHM 1885.2.1.12) falls within the range of variation of Acropora hyacinthus.
Note from the recent paper “The tables have turned: taxonomy, systematics and biogeography of the Acropora hyacinthus (Scleractinia: Acroporidae) complex”
Although our specimens of Acropora conferta resemble some specimens of Acropora hyacinthus, molecular analysis of topotypes from Fiji suggests that they are two different species:
Acropora conferta belongs to the HD clade, while Acropora hyacinthus belongs to the HA clade of molecular phylogeny.
Although they are similar in morphology, the species can be distinguished by the length of their terminal branches, which reach only 10 mm in Acropora conferta and up to 25 mm in Acropora hyacinthus. We are therefore removing Acropora conferta from the synonymy of Acropora hyacinthus.
Quelch's initial description indicates that the branches are very close together, which is also evident in the photo of the species from Fiji.
The first description of the stony coral was based on a specimen from a collection.
Information on water depth and thus exact water temperatures is not known.
It will certainly take some time before new in situ photos of Acropora conferta can be shown; until then, we will unfortunately have to “live” with the coral skeleton shown here.
Synonyms:
Acropora (Polystachys) conferta (Quelch, 1886) · unaccepted > superseded combination
Madrepora (Polystachys) conferta Quelch, 1886 · unaccepted > superseded combination
Madrepora conferta Quelch, 1886 · unaccepted > superseded combination (basionym)
