Phylogenetic relationships of Mediterranean black corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Hexacorallia) upends the classification of the Order Antipatharia. ITS corallia 2017

Mediterranean antipatharians have been known for more than 300 years by virtue of occasional fishing collections; however, it is only in the last decade that the life history of these enigmatic arborescent anthozoans has been progressively revealed. While the majority of the Mediterranean studies focused on the ecology of these corals, other aspects, such as their phylogenetic relationships, have never been fully addressed. Considering that within Mediterranean species are present many type species, phylogenetic studies hold a great potentiality to unveil the systematic organization of the taxon. Herein, we analyze the phylogenetic position of six Mediterranean black coral species using nuclear sequence data of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA.Sequence analysis confirms the separation of Mediterranean species into different families, as was previously noted on a morphological basis, with a clear distinction of the Family Leiopathidae, whose position is supported by a unique number of mesenteries and lack of spines on the thicker ramifications. The position of a newly recorded black coral species for the Mediterranean basin belonging to the genus Phanopathes is discussed. Antipathes dichotoma, the type species of the genus Antipathes on which the Order Antipatharia was based, does not group with other members of the Family Antipathidae. Supporting a recent finding based on mitochondrial markers, this suggests a critical need for revision of the families that will be impacted by reassignment of this paramount taxon.