taxonID	type	description	language	source
DB4587EEFFB5412BFCDCFECBFE67FD03.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype: G 78705 * collected from 7 m depth on the eastern fore-reef of Myrmidon Reef * GBR * Australia (Fig. 5 A * B). Paratypes: G 78343 * 7 m depth * fore-reef of Namaqumaqua * Viti Levu * Fiji (Fig. 5 C); and G 81179 * collected from 1 m depth at Blue Pools * Heron Island * GBR * Australia. Other material examined: MTQ: GBR G 30675 * Davies Reef * Queensland * Australia; G 30677 * Fitzroy Reef * Queensland * Australia. Holotype: Colony shape corymbose with determinate growth form. Primary branches long (> 10 cm) * thin and terete * 3 – 5 mm in diameter and vertically orientated (Fig. 5 D * E). Axial corallites tubular * 1.2 – 2.0 mm outer diameter and 0.8 – 1.0 mm inner diameter (Fig. 5 F). Radial corallites closely positioned but not touching * predominantly appressed tubular with extended lower lip and large oblique or nariform openings * but become labellate towards branch tips. Septa on both axial and radial corallites are weakly developed; primary septa up to one-quarter of the radius of the calyx * secondary septa absent or some present as points (Fig. 5 F * G). The coenosteum is costate * with some spinule development in the paratype specimen (Fig. 5 H). Molecular phylogeny: The two specimens sequenced of this species * from the GBR and Fiji * are recovered as a reciprocally monophyletic group in all phylogenetic trees (Figs 2 * 3; Supporting Information * Figs S 1 * S 2). The species is sister to A. aff. pagoensis in the ML reconstructions * but the SNAPP species tree places A. aff. pagoensis as sister species to A. rongoi (Fig. 3 D). Remarks: Forms small corymbose clumps * generally 15 – 30 cm in diameter. Colonies are compact cushions with short branches in high-energy environments. In more sheltered habitats * colonies can form taller * more upright corymbose colonies. Generally * an iridescent yellow – orange to pinkish / orange colour * especially pronounced at the branch tips and axials * but can also be greyish / brown in colour. Polyps lower on the branches are generally extended during the day and brownish in colour. The species is clearly differentiated morphologically from all other species in clade I-C by its thin * neat branches. Within cluster 1 i * A. aff. pagoensis has much thicker branches * whereas A. rongoi has thick branches and an indeterminate growth form. Acropora tenuis and Acropora azurea Veron & Wallace * 1984 can co-occur with A. tenuissima and can have similar colony shape * but A. tenuissima is distinguished from A. tenuis by its thinner branches and smaller corallites * whereas A. azurea has appressed radial corallites that are nariform rather than tubular. Specimens of A. tenuissima in the MTQ collection are identified as Acropora nana (Studer * 1878); however * the holotype of A. nana (MNB 1941) has tubular to nariform radial corallites * which extend from the branch at an obtuse angle * rather than the acute to appressed angle of A. tenuissima. The coenosteum of the A. nana holotype also exhibits a heavily ornamented coenosteum * whereas the coenosteum of A. tenuissima is costate and lacks spinules. A specimen of A. tenuissima from Fiji is included in the series of images illustrating A. subulata by Veron et al. (2016) http: // www. coralsossheworld. org / media / images / 0073 _ C 04 _ 01. jpg; however * the holotype of A. subulata is a fragement of a large tabular or corymbose colony with tightly packed * labellate radial corallites reminiscent of Acropora squamosa (Brook * 1892) but very distinct from A. tenuissima. Distribution: Currently recorded only from Fiji and the centralsouthern GBR * but likely to occur elsewhere in the south-west Pacific (Supporting Information * Fig. S 6). Etymology: Meaning ‘ very thin’ in Latin * tenuissima refers to the thin branches characteristic of this species and which distinguish it from A. tenuis and A. kenti * both of which co-occur with A. tenuissima across its range.	en	Bridge, Tom C. L., Cowman, Peter F., Quaưrini, Andrea M., Bonito, Victor E., Frederic, Harii, Head, Catherine E. I., Hung, Julia Y., Halafihi, Tuikolongahau, Rongo, Teina, Baird, Andrew H. (2024): A tenuis relationship: traditional taxonomy obscures systematics and biogeography of the ‘ Acropora tenuis’ (ºcleractinia: Acroporidae) species complex. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (1): 1-24, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062, URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062
DB4587EEFFB7412BFF3CFD57FB32FB56.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype: MTQ G 78411 * collected from 1 m depth in the lagoon at Rutaki * Rarotonga * Cook Islands. Paratypes: MTQ G 78418 * collected from 17 m depth on the outer reef slope at Papua * Rarotonga * Cook Islands; MTQ G 80232 collected from 12 m depth on the fore-reef slope at ‘ Ōpūnohu Bay * Mo’orea * French Polynesia; MTQ G 80233 * collected from 10 m depth on the fore-reef at ‘ Ōpūnohu Bay * Mo’orea * French Polynesia. Other material examined: MTQ: Cook Islands: G 35728 Rarotonga * G 35712 * G 55536 Aitutaki; Niue: G 54667 * G 54670 * G 54671; Society Islands: G 44034 * G 58650 Mo’orea. Holotype: Irregular hispidose colony ~ 75 cm in diameter (Fig. 6 A). Primary branches ≤ 300 mm long and 10 – 20 mm in diameter * secondary branches ≤ 100 mm long and 10 – 15 mm in diameter * and tertiary branches 5 – 15 mm long and 2 – 4 mm in diameter. Axial corallites tubular and exsert * outer diameter 1.8 – 2.2 mm * inner diameter 0.9 – 1.2 mm. Radial corallites closely positioned but not touching * outer diameter 1.2 – 1.8 mm * inner diameter 0.7 – 0.8 mm * haphazardly arranged and ranging in shape from tubular with oblique to dimidiate openings through to labellate with flaring lower lips (Fig. 6 B – D). Both axial and radial corallites ossen show two prominent directive septa one-half to three-quarters of the radius of the calyx * but otherwise septa are weakly developed (Fig. 6 G * H). The coenosteum is costate (Fig. 5 H). Molecular phylogeny: The two specimens sequenced of this species from Rarotonga (Cook Islands) are recovered as a reciprocally monophyletic group in all phylogenetic trees (Figs 2 * 3; Supporting Information * Figs S 1 * S 2). The species is sister to a group containing A. aff. pagoensis and A. tenuissima in ML reconstruction * but appears as a direct sister species to A. aff. pagoensis in the SNAPP species tree. Remarks: Colonygrowthformisirregularcaespitosetohispidose * with indeterminate growth. The holotype * from the shallow lagoon of Rarotonga * has upright branches (Fig. 6 A) * whereas paratypes from higher-energy outer reef slopes show thicker * flatter branches with fewer incipient axial corallites. Radial corallites are densely packed (touching in some specimens but not on the holotype) * of mixed sizes and shapes and ossen flaring * giving the colony a spikey * messy appearance. Colour varies from cream to brown. Specimens of A. rongoi in the collection at MTQ were previously identified as A. striata (Verrill * 1866) * Acropora elseyi (Brook * 1892) and Acropora florida (Dana * 1846) * attributable to the variability in gross morphology of A. rongoi in different habitats. Verrill’s holotype of A. striata from the Ryukyu Islands has similar radial corallite shape but is clearly distinguished from A. rongoi on the basis of molecular and biogeographical evidence. Furthermore * the interpretation of A. striata as hispidose (Shirai 1980 * Veron and Wallace 1984 * Wallace 1999) is likely to be incorrect because the holotype lacks tertiary branching (see below for further discussion on A. striata). Acropora elseyi can have similar gross morphology * but radial corallites are tubular to appressed tubular with thick walls and prominent septa * and the coenosteum is composed of elaborate spinules. Colonies from outer reef slopes can also superficially resemble colonies identified as A. florida when tertiary branches become stunted and resemble the ramiculi of A. florida. However * the colony shape of A. florida (Dana * 1846) is arborescent * not hispidose. Acropora affinis (Brook * 1893) * synonymized with A. florida by Veron and Wallace (1984) * may be hispidose * but this species is in clade III (Cowman et al. 2020; Fig. 2). Distribution: Currently known from the Cook Islands * Niue and the Society Islands * French Polynesia in the South Pacific (Supporting Information * Fig. S 6). Etymology: Named for Dr Teina Rongo in recognition of his contribution to research and conservation of coral reefs and the marine environment in the Cook Islands.	en	Bridge, Tom C. L., Cowman, Peter F., Quaưrini, Andrea M., Bonito, Victor E., Frederic, Harii, Head, Catherine E. I., Hung, Julia Y., Halafihi, Tuikolongahau, Rongo, Teina, Baird, Andrew H. (2024): A tenuis relationship: traditional taxonomy obscures systematics and biogeography of the ‘ Acropora tenuis’ (ºcleractinia: Acroporidae) species complex. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (1): 1-24, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062, URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062
DB4587EEFFB74135FC08FB10FE97F851.taxon	materials_examined	Specimens examined: NMNH-SI: USNM 259 * Madrepora tenuis holotype * Fiji; MTQ: Fiji: G 80284 * G 80281 * G 80280 * G 78334 * G 78323 *; G 40941; Tonga: G 80240 * G 80237.	en	Bridge, Tom C. L., Cowman, Peter F., Quaưrini, Andrea M., Bonito, Victor E., Frederic, Harii, Head, Catherine E. I., Hung, Julia Y., Halafihi, Tuikolongahau, Rongo, Teina, Baird, Andrew H. (2024): A tenuis relationship: traditional taxonomy obscures systematics and biogeography of the ‘ Acropora tenuis’ (ºcleractinia: Acroporidae) species complex. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (1): 1-24, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062, URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062
DB4587EEFFB74135FC08FB10FE97F851.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Acropora tenuis is described in recent revisions as having a neat * regular arrangement of branches with few sub-branches and evenly sized cochleariform radial corallites neatly arranged in rows (Veron and Wallace 1984 * Wallace 1999). However * these characters are not consistent with the holotype * which is described by Dana as being caespitose with branchlets that are ‘ very slender * subterete and proliferous’ * while the radial corallites are ‘ appressed-tubiform * irregular * elongate and slender’ (Supporting Information * Fig. S 3). The specimens in the present series vary in gross morphology * but FJ 127 (G 78323) and 101 - 5454 (G 80284) * from the reef flat on the southern coast of Viti Levu * Fiji * closely resemble Dana’s holotype (Fig. 4) * confirming that these specimens are A. tenuis. Other specimens sequenced here illustrate the range of variation within this species. G 80281 * also from Fiji * and G 80240 from Ha’apai * Tonga * have thicker branches than the holotype * while 101 - 5672 (G 80280) is intermediate between these specimens. TG 59 (G 80237) * also from Tonga * differs considerably in gross morphology * growing as a thick bottlebrush rather than a corymbose clump or table. However * close examination of the branch ends shows that the branching structure and corallite shape are consistent with the thicker specimens in the present series. The large range of variation in gross morphology within A. tenuis could present a challenge when defining morphological characters for identification of this species in the field; however * it is clear that many of the species with overlapping morphological features previously considered within the range of variation of A. tenuis have distinct geographical ranges that do not overlap. Acropora tenuis is currently known only from Fiji and Tonga in the South Pacific (Supporting Information * Fig. S 6); all other tenuis - like specimens from other regions are likely to represent distinct species that require additional taxonomic investigation. Consequently * given the support of numerous other population genetic studies demonstrating strong geographic structure within specimens identified as A. tenuis based on gross morphology (e. g. Rosser et al. 2020 * van der Ven et al. 2022) * combined with morphological differences between the type specimens (Supporting Information * Fig. S 3) discussed below * A. macrostoma Brook * 1891 stat. rev. from Mauritius * A. kenti Brook * 1892 stat. rev. from Torres Strait * A. bifaria Brook * 1892 stat. rev. from Java * and A. assicana Brook * 1892 stat. rev. from South Africa (listed as a synonym of A. tenuis by Veron and Wallace 1984 and considered a probably junior synonym of A. tenuis by Wallace [1999]) are hereby removed from synonymy with A. tenuis Dana * 1846. Additional taxonomic research * particularly the collection of topotypes * is required to establish the geographical and morphological ranges of these species and to identify additional species that might co-occur in these regions. Of these four nominal species * A. macrostoma and A. bifaria resemble A. kenti inmorphology * withneatlyarrangedcochleariform radial corallites and minimal tertiary branching (Supporting Information * Fig. S 3). Three specimens in the Museum of Tropical Queensland (G 51822 * G 51823 and G 51824) from Baie Aux Tortues * Mauritius * closely resemble Brook’s type of A. macrostoma owing to their comparatively thick branches * lack of incipient axial corallites and flaring * cochleariform corallites and are therefore re-identified as this species. The species identified as A. tenuis by Pillay et al. (2002: 78 – 79) is also likely to be A. macrostoma. The type of A. assicana is corymbose * but the branches are thicker and axial dominated * and the radial corallites are described by Brook (1893) as ‘ appressed nariform to tubiform’ * rather than labellate or cochleariform (Supporting Information * Fig. S 3). Acropora plana Nemenzo * 1967 was also synonymized with A. tenuis by Veron and Wallace (1984) and considered a junior synonym by Wallace (1999) but recognized as a valid species by Veron (2000) and Veron et al. (2016). The holotype of A. plana appears to be a fragment of a large tabular colony with relatively thin branches * and the radial coralites are appressed with round openings (Supporting Information * Fig. S 3). These morphological differences * combined with the type location of A. plana in the Philippines * indicate that this species is unlikely to be a synonym of A. tenuis. However * we have not examined the holotype * and further research is needed to resolve the status of this species.	en	Bridge, Tom C. L., Cowman, Peter F., Quaưrini, Andrea M., Bonito, Victor E., Frederic, Harii, Head, Catherine E. I., Hung, Julia Y., Halafihi, Tuikolongahau, Rongo, Teina, Baird, Andrew H. (2024): A tenuis relationship: traditional taxonomy obscures systematics and biogeography of the ‘ Acropora tenuis’ (ºcleractinia: Acroporidae) species complex. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (1): 1-24, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062, URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062
DB4587EEFFA94136FC20FF75FE27FE13.taxon	materials_examined	Specimens examined: NMNH-SI: USNM 275 * Madrepora echinata holotype * Fiji; MNHN 282 a * Madrepora duroillei holotype * Fiji; MTQ: G 28406 * G 28460 * G 28461 * G 28409 * G 28458 * G 56982 * G 80268 GBR; G 78007 Papua New Guinea; G 60537 * G 60571 * G 80259 Coral Sea; G 78322 * * G 80278 Fiji.	en	Bridge, Tom C. L., Cowman, Peter F., Quaưrini, Andrea M., Bonito, Victor E., Frederic, Harii, Head, Catherine E. I., Hung, Julia Y., Halafihi, Tuikolongahau, Rongo, Teina, Baird, Andrew H. (2024): A tenuis relationship: traditional taxonomy obscures systematics and biogeography of the ‘ Acropora tenuis’ (ºcleractinia: Acroporidae) species complex. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (1): 1-24, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062, URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062
DB4587EEFFA94136FC20FF75FE27FE13.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Dana’s description of A. echinata is clearly based on USNM 275 (Fig. 4 F) * designated as the lectotype by Wallace (1999). It is a large specimen (~ 50 cm in diameter) from Fiji * which matches Dana’s description of an arborescent corallum with branches that are ‘ very neatly bristled with delicate branchlets’ that give it an ‘ even cylindrical outline’ * ‘ smooth tubiform calices’ and a costate coenosteum. We sequenced two specimens from the type locality (G 78322 and G 80278) with characters that very closely match the lectotype. These specimens confirm the identity of A. echinata * but the morphology of specimens in our study * from the GBR * the Coral Sea and the Bismarck Sea * show considerable morphological variability. In particular * specimen G 80259 from Marion Reef in the Coral Sea is more bushy than the lectotype and topotype specimens from Fiji * while G 78007 from the Bismarck Sea has thicker * less dense branches. However * all specimens of A. echinata have terete incipient axial corallites with square walls * compared with the thicker * more rounded tubular walls of other bottlebrush species. The coenosteum of A. echinata is costate * whereas other bottlebrush species ossen have elaborate spinules [e. g. Acropora subglabra Brook * 1891 (G 71541)]. Additional specimens in the collection of MTQ also possess all these characters * providing strong morphological support for their identification as A. echinata. Madrepora duroillei Milne Edwards & Haime * 1860 from Fiji and Madrepora procumbens Brook * 1891 from the ‘ South Seas’ were considered junior synonyms of A. echinata by Veron and Wallace (1984) and Wallace (1999). Milne Edwards and Haime (1860) note that M. duroillei is very similar to M. echinata. The M. duroillei holotype (MNHN Z 282 a) is described as having ‘ echinated ribs’ by Milne Edwards and Haime (1860) * which presumably refers to the coenosteum * and is from the same type locality as A. echinata * supporting previous decisions that the species is a junior synonym of this species. However * the type of A. procumbens (NHM 1841.12.11.3) has more rounded corallite walls and spinules on the coenosteum * and therefore more closely resembles bottlebrush species from Clade V [e. g. A. subglabra G 71541 and G 71543] than those from Clade I. Consequently * although A. procumbens does not appear to be a junior synonym of A. echinata (Dana * 1846) * further research is required to determine its taxonomic status and phylogenetic affinities. The A. echinata genome assembled from a specimen collected from the Ryukyu Islands (Shinzato et al. 2021) is reconstructed in our study in Clade VI (labelled clade IV by Shinzato et al. 2021) * deeply diverged (> 50 Mya; Shinzato et al. 2021) from A. echinata (Dana * 1846) sampled from the type locality * which we reconstruct in Clade I (concordant with Clade I in the study by Shinzato et al. 2021). Unfortunately * there is no voucher or field image associated with this genome * hence we cannot comment on any morphological differences between these species. However * it is possible that the Coral Triangle / north-west Pacific region supports another distinct species with morphological similarities to A. echinata. Consequently * we do not include any specimens from these regions as A. echinata * pending further study. Based on the specimens we examined here * the current geographical range of A. echinata extends from the type locality in Fiji west across the Coral Sea to the Great Barrier Reef and north to the Bismarck Sea (Supporting Information * Fig. S 6).	en	Bridge, Tom C. L., Cowman, Peter F., Quaưrini, Andrea M., Bonito, Victor E., Frederic, Harii, Head, Catherine E. I., Hung, Julia Y., Halafihi, Tuikolongahau, Rongo, Teina, Baird, Andrew H. (2024): A tenuis relationship: traditional taxonomy obscures systematics and biogeography of the ‘ Acropora tenuis’ (ºcleractinia: Acroporidae) species complex. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (1): 1-24, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062, URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062
DB4587EEFFAA4137FC60F9B9FF0DFE13.taxon	materials_examined	Specimens examined: NHM: 40.9.30.9 * Madrepora assicana holotype * South Africa	en	Bridge, Tom C. L., Cowman, Peter F., Quaưrini, Andrea M., Bonito, Victor E., Frederic, Harii, Head, Catherine E. I., Hung, Julia Y., Halafihi, Tuikolongahau, Rongo, Teina, Baird, Andrew H. (2024): A tenuis relationship: traditional taxonomy obscures systematics and biogeography of the ‘ Acropora tenuis’ (ºcleractinia: Acroporidae) species complex. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (1): 1-24, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062, URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062
DB4587EEFFAA4137FC60F9B9FF0DFE13.taxon	discussion	Remarks: See remarks under Acropora tenuis (above). Brook notes that the collection location of the holotype specimen was recorded as the Cape of Good Hope * but that he believed the specimen came from the south-east coast. Therefore * the specimen is most likely to be from subtropical east Africa. The species is reported from Mozambique and Sri Lanka based on literature records provided by Sheppard (1987) * and the type locality for the species was incorrectly recorded as Sri Lanka by Veron and Wallace (1984) * but further research is needed to establish its distribution.	en	Bridge, Tom C. L., Cowman, Peter F., Quaưrini, Andrea M., Bonito, Victor E., Frederic, Harii, Head, Catherine E. I., Hung, Julia Y., Halafihi, Tuikolongahau, Rongo, Teina, Baird, Andrew H. (2024): A tenuis relationship: traditional taxonomy obscures systematics and biogeography of the ‘ Acropora tenuis’ (ºcleractinia: Acroporidae) species complex. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (1): 1-24, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062, URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062
DB4587EEFFAA4136FC7BFB06FA3CF9A1.taxon	materials_examined	Specimens examined: NHM: 1859.12.12.2 * Madrepora bifaria holotype * Java	en	Bridge, Tom C. L., Cowman, Peter F., Quaưrini, Andrea M., Bonito, Victor E., Frederic, Harii, Head, Catherine E. I., Hung, Julia Y., Halafihi, Tuikolongahau, Rongo, Teina, Baird, Andrew H. (2024): A tenuis relationship: traditional taxonomy obscures systematics and biogeography of the ‘ Acropora tenuis’ (ºcleractinia: Acroporidae) species complex. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (1): 1-24, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062, URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062
DB4587EEFFAA4136FC7BFB06FA3CF9A1.taxon	discussion	Remarks: See remarks under A. tenuis (above). This species is currently confirmed to occur only in the type locality of Java * Indonesia. Further research is needed to establish its distribution.	en	Bridge, Tom C. L., Cowman, Peter F., Quaưrini, Andrea M., Bonito, Victor E., Frederic, Harii, Head, Catherine E. I., Hung, Julia Y., Halafihi, Tuikolongahau, Rongo, Teina, Baird, Andrew H. (2024): A tenuis relationship: traditional taxonomy obscures systematics and biogeography of the ‘ Acropora tenuis’ (ºcleractinia: Acroporidae) species complex. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (1): 1-24, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062, URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062
DB4587EEFFAA4136FF0BFE59FABDFD0D.taxon	materials_examined	Specimens examined: Madrepora kenti lectotype: NHM 1892.6.8.202 * Thursday Island * Torres Strait * Australia; syntype: NHM: 1892.6.8.203 * Low Woody Island * GBR * Australia; MTQ: G 27054 * G 27078 * G 27236 * G 27245 * G 27280 * G 27281 * G 27282 * G 27284 * G 27285 * G 27286 * G 27287 * G 27288 * G 27289 * G 27292 * G 27298 * G 27711 * G 28444 * G 29061 * G 29064 * G 29899 * G 29903 * G 29905 * G 31175 * G 32447 * G 32448 * G 32455 * G 32456 * G 34149 * G 35014 * G 35015 * G 35138 * G 35139 * G 35140 * G 35141 * G 35142 * G 35638 * G 35879 * G 40909 * G 41100 * G 41101 * G 41102 * G 41103 * G 48325 * G 49331 * G 58409 * G 78648 * G 78750 * G 78778 * G 80247 * G 80266 * * G 80256 * G 80256 * G 78750 * G 335181, G 335182 GBR; G 35638 * G 35897 * G 53273 * G 53275 * G 53281 * G 53284 * G 53288 * G 78014; G 78046 * G 78064 * G 80270 * Papua New Guinea; G 27291 * G 28448 * G 35879 * G 60564 * G 63895 * G 80258 Coral Sea; G 60131 * G 80251 * G 80250 Lord Howe Island.	en	Bridge, Tom C. L., Cowman, Peter F., Quaưrini, Andrea M., Bonito, Victor E., Frederic, Harii, Head, Catherine E. I., Hung, Julia Y., Halafihi, Tuikolongahau, Rongo, Teina, Baird, Andrew H. (2024): A tenuis relationship: traditional taxonomy obscures systematics and biogeography of the ‘ Acropora tenuis’ (ºcleractinia: Acroporidae) species complex. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (1): 1-24, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062, URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062
DB4587EEFFAA4136FF0BFE59FABDFD0D.taxon	description	Description: Corallum horizontal or corymbose * main branches 2.0 – 2.5 cm thick. Corallites large * round * appressed tubular. Radial corallites appressed tubular * crowded and prominent * with the outer part of the wall forming a rounded lip with no inner wall. Septa moderately developed * with two directive septa prominent.	en	Bridge, Tom C. L., Cowman, Peter F., Quaưrini, Andrea M., Bonito, Victor E., Frederic, Harii, Head, Catherine E. I., Hung, Julia Y., Halafihi, Tuikolongahau, Rongo, Teina, Baird, Andrew H. (2024): A tenuis relationship: traditional taxonomy obscures systematics and biogeography of the ‘ Acropora tenuis’ (ºcleractinia: Acroporidae) species complex. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (1): 1-24, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062, URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062
DB4587EEFFAA4136FF0BFE59FABDFD0D.taxon	discussion	Remarks: The lectotype of A. kenti (Supporting Information * Fig. S 3) differs from the holotype of A. tenuis in having thicker branches that lack tertiary branching and incipient axials * and in possessing cochleariform radial corallites arranged in neat rows. Of the specimens sequenced in this study * G 80266 from Great Detached Reef and G 80247 from Myrmidon Reef most closely resemble the lectotype * NHM 1892.6.8.202 * designated by Wallace (1999) from Thursday Island * Torres Strait. Brook’s syntype * NHM 1892.6.8.203 * from Low Woody Island near Cooktown in the northern GBR is morphologically similar to the lectotype and is almost certainly the same species. Like A. tenuis * the specimens of A. kenti in our phylogeny show considerable variation in gross morphology * in terms of both branch thickness and the neatness of the radial corallites. Two colonies collected adjacent to each other at Myrmidon Reef * GBR * and sequenced in the present series * G 80247 and G 78778 * demonstrate the range of variation in the length and neatness of the radial corallites. Specimens also show variation in branch thickness within and between colonies * some of which might be attributable to environmental factors * such as wave exposure. Despite morphological variability within the species * molecular data clearly demonstrate that A. kenti (Brook * 1892) is distinct from A. tenuis (Dana * 1846); therefore * we formally resurrect the former species. Consequently * the species commonly referred to as A. tenuis on the GBR and elsewhere in eastern Australia (sensu Veron and Wallace 1984) * including the genome published as A. tenuis from the GBR (Cooke et al. 2020) is A. kenti. Unlike many published genomes * images were taken of the live colonies from Orpheus Island * GBR * that provided the material for the A. kenti genome. Voucher specimens from these colonies were also deposited in the collection of the Queensland Museum (G 335181 and G 335182) * and the morphology of the specimens closely matches the A. kenti lectotype. Based on the specimens examined here * the geographical range of A. kenti extends from Lord Howe Island north along the GBR to the Bismarck Sea and east to the Coral Sea (Supporting Information * Fig. S 6).	en	Bridge, Tom C. L., Cowman, Peter F., Quaưrini, Andrea M., Bonito, Victor E., Frederic, Harii, Head, Catherine E. I., Hung, Julia Y., Halafihi, Tuikolongahau, Rongo, Teina, Baird, Andrew H. (2024): A tenuis relationship: traditional taxonomy obscures systematics and biogeography of the ‘ Acropora tenuis’ (ºcleractinia: Acroporidae) species complex. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (1): 1-24, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062, URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062
DB4587EEFFAA4136FC9FFD2EFBCAFB25.taxon	materials_examined	Specimens examined: NHM: 1878.2.4.7 * Madrepora macrostoma holotype * Mauritius; MTQ: G 51822 * G 51823 and G 51824 * from Baie Aux Tortues * Mauritius.	en	Bridge, Tom C. L., Cowman, Peter F., Quaưrini, Andrea M., Bonito, Victor E., Frederic, Harii, Head, Catherine E. I., Hung, Julia Y., Halafihi, Tuikolongahau, Rongo, Teina, Baird, Andrew H. (2024): A tenuis relationship: traditional taxonomy obscures systematics and biogeography of the ‘ Acropora tenuis’ (ºcleractinia: Acroporidae) species complex. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (1): 1-24, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062, URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062
DB4587EEFFAA4136FC9FFD2EFBCAFB25.taxon	discussion	Remarks: See remarks under A. tenuis (above). This species is currently confirmed to occur only in the type locality of Mauritius. There are literature records from other locations (e. g. Mozambique; Sheppard 1987) * but further research is needed to establish its distribution.	en	Bridge, Tom C. L., Cowman, Peter F., Quaưrini, Andrea M., Bonito, Victor E., Frederic, Harii, Head, Catherine E. I., Hung, Julia Y., Halafihi, Tuikolongahau, Rongo, Teina, Baird, Andrew H. (2024): A tenuis relationship: traditional taxonomy obscures systematics and biogeography of the ‘ Acropora tenuis’ (ºcleractinia: Acroporidae) species complex. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (1): 1-24, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062, URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062
DB4587EEFFAB4137FF54FE54FDE9F95A.taxon	materials_examined	Specimens examined: MTQ G 32475 Acropora akajimensis holotype * Ginanotatejyan * Aka-jima * Japan; G 47767 Aka-jima * Japan; RUMF-ZG- 04792 * Sesoko Island * Japan.	en	Bridge, Tom C. L., Cowman, Peter F., Quaưrini, Andrea M., Bonito, Victor E., Frederic, Harii, Head, Catherine E. I., Hung, Julia Y., Halafihi, Tuikolongahau, Rongo, Teina, Baird, Andrew H. (2024): A tenuis relationship: traditional taxonomy obscures systematics and biogeography of the ‘ Acropora tenuis’ (ºcleractinia: Acroporidae) species complex. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (1): 1-24, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062, URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062
DB4587EEFFAB4137FF54FE54FDE9F95A.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Acropora akajimensis Veron * 1990 * from Aka-jima * Japan * was considered a junior synonym of A. donei Veron & Wallace * 1984 by Wallace (1999) * a decision supported by Hoeksema and Cairns (2022). Veron (2000 * 2016) continues to recognize A. akajimensis as a distinct species * noting that it is ‘ readily distinguished by its larger * sprawling * indeterminate branching pattern as compared with the determinate growth … of A. donei ’ (Veron 2016). Veron’s opinion is supported by the type specimens and original descriptions of both species: A. donei is described as forming colonies that are ‘ caespito-corymbose or large corymbose plates or tables’ (Veron and Wallace 1984) * whereas A. akajimensis is ‘ irregularly arborescent’ (Veron 1990). The species has been the subject of several reproductive studies in Japan (e. g. Hatta and Matsushima 2008 * Morita et al. 2019) and was generally referred to as A. donei. Recently * Baird et al. (2022) applied the name A. akaijimensis to the species with tabular-branching growth form and labellate to cochleariform radial corallites that spawns at ~ 19: 30 h on the reefs surrounding Sesoko Island * ~ 20 km from the type locality of Aka-Jima * Japan * on the basis that the morphology more closely resembles the type of A. akajimensis than A. donei. Our study includes one specimen from Sesoko Island (54 - 5921 / RUMF-ZG- 04792; Fig. 4 Q * R) that closely resembles the type of A. akajimensis. This specimen occurs within the unresolved sp (p) clade. In addition * two specimens that resemble the type of A. donei collected from the north-central GBR (G 78708 and G 80265) are in Clade III sensu Cowman et al. (2020) and therefore not closely related to the A. akajimensis specimen from Sesoko. Consequently * we resurrect A. akajimensis as a valid species and suggest that A. donei is unlikely to occur in Japan. Further research is required to confirm the taxonomic identity and geographic range of A. donei and to establish the relationship between A. akajimensis and other species within Clade I-C in the north-west Pacific.	en	Bridge, Tom C. L., Cowman, Peter F., Quaưrini, Andrea M., Bonito, Victor E., Frederic, Harii, Head, Catherine E. I., Hung, Julia Y., Halafihi, Tuikolongahau, Rongo, Teina, Baird, Andrew H. (2024): A tenuis relationship: traditional taxonomy obscures systematics and biogeography of the ‘ Acropora tenuis’ (ºcleractinia: Acroporidae) species complex. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (1): 1-24, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062, URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad062
