Micromorphology and microstructure as expressions of scleractinian skeletogenesis in Favia fragum (Esper, 1795) (Faviidae, Scleractinia)

Microstructural différences observable within septa are currently recognized as major phylogencric critcria among Scleractinia.If the emergence of niolecular techniques provides a good mean ofassessing thèse criteria, sonie recent results using molfccuîar approach seem to give only low support for niicrostructural-based phylogcuetic rclationships of Scleractinia.This, however, may resuit from the numerous uncertainties concerning rhe microstructural pattern of species upon which major taxa arc based.Three-diniensional characters of septal growth units and rheir varïabiliry hâve here been investigared using the specimens of Favia fragum included within the Milne Edwards Collection, these being the oldest référencé ntaterial still available today.Integrating these data with results front the most recenr work on this species KEYWORDS leads to the reconstruction of the three-dimensional pattern of septal archi-^Sderacnnia' tecture.The phylogenetic significance of this requires assessment with alterskeletogenesis. native approaches.