The phylogenetic and population analyses of Palmorchestia from La Palma show the need for a rigorous revision of the taxonomic status of the genus, its evolutionary relationship with other Talitridae, and the morphological characters in which the two currently considered species differ.
Currently, we rely on morphological characters from the whole colony, polyps, and sclerites to define and distinguish octocoral species [ 50].
Statistical parsimony yielded three networks supporting the species status of Cephalothrix rufifrons, C. major and C. spiralis as they currently have been delineated by morphological characters and geographical location.
Additional analysis of morphological characters and molecular data from Pacific Northwest specimens is currently underway to explore the potential presence of a new candidate species.
In applying traditional morphological characters for species delineation (external morphology, radula and spicules) all collected material resolved into two morphospecies represented by the currently recognized species (see further details in discussion on species delineation in Pontohedyle).
Still others suggest that Archaeopteryx might have been at home both in the trees and on the ground, like modern crows, and this latter view is what currently, is considered best-supported by morphological characters.
Notwithstanding the features they share with all other anopluran families, the only morphological characters that are common to all members of the Polyplacidae, as currently recognized, are the presence of 5 antennal segments, 6 pairs of spiracles on the abdomen, small forelegs, and the absence of a notal pit on the thorax [ 21].
Currently, investigations on adaptive changes in fig wasps are limited to morphological characters associated with an ecological niche [ 14, 33- 36].
The distinctiveness of extant Galápagos tortoise lineages (11 currently recognized taxa inhabiting six islands) was initially based mostly on diagnostic morphological characters of the shell [11].
As currently defined, Pritchardia species are primarily recognized by their geographic distributions and a suite of morphological characters [ 29, 30].
