Modern scleractinian corals are classified into robust, complex, and basal clades through comparative molecular studies. However, only few morphological or biological criteria can systematically determine the evolutionary trajectories of these major scleractinian coral clades. Here, we obtained the structural information of 21 scleractinian coral species representing robust and complex clades: High-resolution micro-computed tomography was used to reconstruct the polyp-canal systems in their colonies and to visualize the dynamic polyp growth processes. We found that the emergence of mesh-like canals may distinguish representatives of complex and robust clades. The differences in polyp-canal connections suggest distinct evolutionary trajectories among coral species: The formation of the canal network promoted the development of more complex coral structures, and coral polyps within this network formed calices of very similar volume, following precise axial growth directions. The influence of individual polyps on the coral colony becomes less significant as coral structures become more complex, and coral species with more complicated polyp-canal systems occupied niches more efficiently. This work supplements current evolutionary studies on reef-building corals, providing insight for further studies on coral growth patterns.
