Integration of Morphological Data into Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis: Toward the Identikit of the Stylasterid Ancestor

摘要: Stylasteridae is a hydroid family including 29 worldwide-distributed genera, all provided with calcareous skeleton. They are abundant in shallow and deep waters represent an important component of marine communities. In the present paper, we studied evolution ten morphological characters, currently used stylasterid taxonomy, using phylogenetic approach. Our results indicate that morphology highly plastic many events independent reversion have occurred. analysis also allows sketching possible identikit ancestor. It had skeleton, reticulate-granular coenosteal texture, polyps randomly arranged, gastrostyle, dactylopore spines, while lacking gastropore lip dactylostyles. If ancestor single or double/multiple chambered tube uncertain. These data suggest was similar to extant genera Cyclohelia Stellapora. investigation first attempt integrate molecular information clarify evolutionary scenario represents step infer morphology.