Microstructure versus morphology in the skeleton of Triassic scleractinian corals

The systematics of Triassic corals based on morphological characters (Alloiteau 1952, Wells 1956) has been examined. It has been shown that microstructural characters are more valuable than morphological ones as systematic criteria for scleractinian corals. An outline of Triassic coral evolution has been presented and the premises, on which the classic concept of independent rugosan and scleractinian phylogenies is based, are refuted.