Global Diversity of the Stylasteridae (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Athecatae)
2011
Global Diversity of the Stylasteridae
Sample size: 247
publication
Evidence: high
Author Information
Author(s): Stephen D. Cairns
Primary Institution: National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution
Conclusion
The study provides a comprehensive overview of the diversity, distribution, and classification of the Stylasteridae family of corals.
Supporting Evidence
- The study discusses the history and rate of discovery of 247 valid Recent stylasterid species.
- It maps the number of species in 19 oceanographic regions, highlighting the southwestern temperate Pacific as the most diverse.
- The research includes a phylogenetic classification of the genera and an illustrated glossary of morphological characters.
Takeaway
Stylasterids are a type of coral that live in deep water and come in many species, with some found all over the world and others only in specific places.
Methodology
The study involved reviewing historical data on species descriptions and mapping species distributions across various oceanic regions.
Limitations
The study primarily focuses on known species and may not account for undiscovered species or those in poorly sampled regions.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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