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The recently erected macrocnemic family Hydrozoanthidae comprises relatively few species recorded from tropical and subtropical regions. In the Atlantic Ocean, this family has been reported only from three locations: the Caribbean Sea, the Argentine continental shelf and the Cape Verde Islands. Based on a study of colonies collected during scuba diving at Alcatrazes Archipelago's main island (São Paulo State), south-eastern Brazil, a new species belonging to the genus Terrazoanthus is described as T. silveirai sp. nov. Vaga, Migotto & Kitahara. Morphological and ecological observations coupled with molecular analyses revealed a unique cnidome, a novel facultative association with sponges, and confirmed the phylogenetic position of this new species within Hydrozoanthidae. Our results represent the second record of Hydrozoanthidae and Terrazoanthus from the South-western Atlantic, expanding the sparse taxonomic knowledge of the order Zoantharia in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Proposition of Bathyporidae fam. nov. • Description of a new species of Madrepora. • High gene flow within Madrepora populations in the Southwestern Atlantic. Deep-water coral reefs are found worldwide and harbor biodiversity levels that are comparable to their shallow-water counterparts. However, the genetic diversity and population structure of deep-water species remain poorly explored, and historical taxonomical issues still need to be resolved. Here we used microsatellite markers as well as ultraconserved elements (UCE) and exons to shed light on the population structure, genetic diversity, and phylogenetic position of the genus Madrepora , which contains M. oculata , one of the most widespread scleractinian species. Population structure of 107 samples from three Southwestern Atlantic sedimentary basins revealed the occurrence of a cryptic species, herein named M. piresae sp. nov. (authored by Kitahara, Capel and Zilberberg), which can be found in sympatry with M. oculata. Phylogeny reconstructions based on 134 UCEs and exon regions corroborated the population genetic data, with the recovery of two well-supported groups, and reinforced the polyphyly of the family Oculinidae. In order to better accommodate the genus Madrepora , while reducing taxonomical confusion associated with the name Madreporidae, we propose the monogeneric family Bathyporidae fam. nov. (authored by Kitahara, Capel, Zilberberg and Cairns). Our findings advance the knowledge on the widespread deep-water genus Madrepora , resolve a long-standing question regarding the phylogenetic position of the genus , and highlight the need of a worldwide review of the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hybrid capture is a useful large-scale phylogenomic reconstructions. • We perform the largest phylogenomic reconstruction of Scleractinia. • Phylogenetic relationships are resolved, but paraphyletic families remain. • Taxonomic uncertainty is rife, and revisions are urgently required. A well-supported evolutionary tree representing most major lineages of scleractinian corals is in sight with the development and application of phylogenomic approaches. Specifically, hybrid-capture techniques are shedding light on the evolution and systematics of corals. Here, we reconstructed a broad phylogeny of Scleractinia to test previous phylogenetic hypotheses inferred from a few molecular markers, in particular, the relationships among major scleractinian families and genera, and to identify clades that require further research. We analysed 449 nuclear loci from 422 corals, comprising 266 species spanning 26 families, combining data across whole genomes, transcriptomes, hybrid capture and low-coverage sequencing to reconstruct the largest phylogenomic tree of scleractinians to date. Due to the large number of loci and data completeness (less than 38% missing data), node supports were high across shallow and deep nodes with incongruences observed in only a few shallow nodes. The "Robust" and "Complex" clades were recovered unequivocally, and our analyses confirmed that Micrabaciidae Vaughan, 1905 is sister to the "Robust" clade, transforming our understanding of the "Basal" clade. Several families remain polyphyletic in our phylogeny, including Deltocyathiidae Kitahara, Cairns, Stolarski & Miller, 2012, Caryophylliidae Dana, 1846, and Coscinaraeidae Benzoni, Arrigoni, Stefani & Stolarski, 2012, and we hereby formally proposed the family name Pachyseridae Benzoni & Hoeksema to accommodate Pachyseris Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849, which is phylogenetically distinct from Agariciidae Gray, 1847. Results also revealed species misidentifications and inconsistencies within morphologically complex clades, such as Acropora Oken, 1815 and Platygyra Ehrenberg, 1834, underscoring the need for reference skeletal material and topotypes, as well as the importance of detailed taxonomic work. The approach and findings here provide much promise for further stabilising the topology of the scleractinian tree of life and advancing our understanding of coral evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]