Changes of scientific names of the scleractinian corals until 2023

Abstract

Taxonomic classification of the scleractinian corals underwent major revisions from 2012 to 2014, focusing on the former families Mussidae and Faviidae. Since then, changes in scientific names due to the taxonomic revisions of many other corals have been also reported every year. Especially, Rowlett (2020) reported taxonomic revisions of many families and genera of corals. Thus, in the current situation where the taxonomic classification is changing rapidly, coral researchers need to update the scientific names they use. However, it is difficult for researchers who are not deeply involved in taxonomy to spend time on this task. Therefore, in this article, we introduce the main scleractinian corals at the species rank and the higher taxonomic groups that have undergone the changes of the scientific names due to taxonomic revisions since 2016.