Echinogorgia andamanensis ( Thomson & Simpson, 1909 ) Ramvilas & Alderslade & Ranjeet, 2023

Ramvilas, Ghosh, Alderslade, Philip & Ranjeet, Kutty, 2023, The taxonomy of Indian gorgonians: an assessment of the descriptive records of gorgonians (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) recorded as occurring in the territorial waters of India, along with neighbouring regions and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the highlighting of perceived unethical practice, Zootaxa 5236 (1), pp. 1-124 : 52

Echinogorgia andamanensis ( Thomson & Simpson, 1909) new comb.

Echinomuricea andamanensis Thomson & Simpson, 1909: 203–204 , pl. 1, fig. 8; pl. 8, fig. 2 (Andamans).

Opinion: This species occurs in the region.

Justification:

These Indian records are either unconfirmable or seem to be invalid: Thomas et al. 1998: 160–162, fig 1B, 1–3 (off Kollam) as Echinomuricea andmanensis .

Literature analysis:The species was described from the Andamans and is currently accepted as an Echinomuricea , but the colony has branch anastomoses, which is not a trait of Echinomuricea , and the sclerites figured by the authors resemble those from a species of Echinogorgia . Thomas et al. (1998) described a reticulate colony, which combined with their sclerite drawings indicate they had a specimen of an Echinogorgia , but both their account and that of Thomson & Simpson (1909) lack sufficient detail to be able tell if they refer to the same species. Rao & Devi only listed the species.