title: A pre-zygotic barrier to hybridization in two con-generic species of scleractinian corals.
abstract: Hybridization is often cited as a potential source of evolutionary novelty in the order Scleractinia. While hybrid embryos can be produced in vitro, it has been difficult to identify adult hybrids in the wild. Here, we tested the potential for hybridization between two closely related species in the family Fungiidae. We mixed approximately 5000 eggs of Ctenactis echinata with sperm from C. crassa. No hybrid embryos were produced. This observation adds to a growing body of evidence for pre-zygotic barriers to hybridization in corals and challenges the claim that hybridization is a major source of evolutionary novelty in the order.
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Council, Centre of Excellence for Coral Reefs Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Baird
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Council, Centre of Excellence for Coral Reefs Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
authors.forename: Vivian R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Cumbo
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Council, Centre of Excellence for Coral Reefs Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.affiliation: Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Saki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harii