Taxonomy Question

[encrustingacro]

How do taxonomists choose coral family names? Why is it poritidae and not gonioporidae or acroporidae and not montiporidae or merulinidae and not favitidae?

 

[MnFish1]

How do taxonomists choose coral family names? Why is it poritidae and not gonioporidae or acroporidae and not montiporidae or merulinidae and not favitidae?

The families are kind of set - based on characteristics. Family names have (for the most part) - been established for a LONG time.