Subgroups

The phylogenetic relationships of the anthozoans are not resolved and there is no universally agreed classification (see this summary of the debate). Anthozoa are traditionally divided into two or three groups, either recognising the black corals and tube anemones, which both have singly occurring mesenteries as a shared feature, as a subclass (Ceriantipatharia) or demoting them to orders within the Zoantharia. The latter scheme (of Hyman, 1940) is used here.

Class Anthozoa

Subclass Zoantharia (=Hexacorallia)
Order Antipatharia (black corals)
Order Cerianthia (tube anemones)
Order Rugosa (extinct)

Supersuborder Cystiphyllida (M. Ord. - ?U. Perm.)
Supersuborder Stauriida (M. Ord. - U. Perm.)

Order Tabulata (extinct)
Suborder Lichenariina (L. Ord. - L. Sil.)
Suborder Sarcinulina (M. Ord. - M. Dev.)
Suborder Favositina (M. Ord. - Perm.)
Suborder Auloporina (Ord. - Perm.)
Suborder Syringoporina (M. Ord. - Perm.)
Suborder Halysitina (M. Ord. - U. Sil.)
Suborder Heliolitina (M. Ord. - M. Dev.)

Order Scleractinia (stony corals)
Suborder Astrocoeniina
Suborder Fungiina
Suborder Faviina
Suborder Caryophyllina
Suborder Dendrophyllina

Order Actinaria (sea anemones)
Order Zoanthidae (soft corals)

Subclass Alcyonaria (=Octocorallia)
Order Alcyonacea (soft corals)
Order Gorgonacea (sea fans and sea feathers)
Order Helioporacea (blue coral)
Order Pennatulacea (sea pens and sea pansies)
Order Stolonifera (organ-pipe corals)
Order Telestacea (soft corals)

Author: Ben Kotrc
Last updated: 21 November 2005
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