Astrogorgia umbraticoides ( Studer, 1878 ) 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 : 48

? Astrogorgia umbraticoides ( Studer, 1878) new comb.

Muricea umbraticoides (error for Muricella ) Studer, 1878a: 650, pl. 3, fig. 16 ( Australia).

Opinion: There is no evidence that this species occurs in the region.

Justification:

These Indian records seem to be either invalid or unconfirmable: Thomas & George 1986: 102, fig. 1e, 1–4 (Kovalam).

Literature analysis: In Studer’s account of this species, he documented the specimen under Muricella but mistakenly named the species Muricea umbracticoides . The description of the holotype, collected off Western Australia, includes a figure of the colony but only 3 sclerites, the largest of which is rather oval-shaped. Studer described the specimen as having calyces and spindles with the warts mainly on one side and forming a pavementlike layer. Ridley (1884: 336) assigned a specimen from the north-east coast of Australia to this species and said that the warting was not one sided, but he provided no illustrations. Wright & Studer (1889: 124) identified material from the Arafura Sea off the north coast of Australia with this species and said the warts were decidedly larger on one side of the large surface spindles, but also provided no illustrations. Thomson & Simpson (1909: 244) just paraphrased Wright & Studer’s description. Unfortunately, Studer’s description is not adequate to be able to recognise the species, so all subsequent reports cannot be validated. However, the species is probably an Astrogorgia .

Thomas & George’s (1986) description does not mention if their colony has calyces or not and the small outline drawings of the sclerites include many forms that do not correspond with what is known of the holotype. Thomas & George (1987) just listed the species under its original name.