Ellisella andamanensis ( Simpson, 1910 )

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 : 85

Ellisella andamanensis ( Simpson, 1910)

Scirpearia andamanensis Simpson, 1910: 106–107 , fig. 97–101 (Andamans).

Opinion: This species does occur in the region.

Justification:

These Indian records seem to be either invalid or unconfirmable: Thomas & George 1986: 107–108, fig. 1o 1–2 (Gulf of Mannar; Kadiapattanam); Thomas et al. 1995: 140 (NE coast); Mary & Lazarus 2004: 39, fig. 18 (SW coast); Fernando 2011: 109–110, pl. 67, fig. 1–1e (Cuddalore); Fernando et al. 2017: 224, pl. 104, fig. 1–1e (Cuddalore).

Literature analysis: This species was established by Simpson under the old name Scirpearia with only 4 sclerite illustrations. Given the small differences in sclerite shape among the nominal species of Ellisella this leaves the species extremely difficult to recognise. Kükenthal (1924) transferred the species to the genus Ellisella and claimed that Verrucella stellata and Scirpearella regia Nutting, 1910 were synonyms but the distribution of the polyps in those species is not in two series like those of E. andamanensis so they are probably not this species. The same concern about polyp distribution applies to the material described by Thomas & George (1986). Their material was not from the Andamans and their sclerite drawings are only rudimentary. Thomas et al. (1995) refers to the 1986 description and present no other taxonomic data. Mary & Lazarus (2004) record material from the south west Indian coast but just repeat the Thomas & George (1986) description. These authors did present better drawings of the sclerites, but their “Dumb-bells” have only a few large tubercles and are quite unlike those in the type material. The publications of Fernando (2011) and Fernando et al. (2017) present identical descriptions which clearly represent a different species. Their colony is a dense bush of long, thin, whiplike branches, whereas the holotype of E. andamanensis consists of relatively thick, well-spaced branches that curve away at a broad angle from their parent branch before extending upwards. Also, the sclerites of their colony include narrow spindles that are much longer than the double heads, while the spindles in the holotype are only slightly longer. It should be noted that these authors refer to the colony having calyces, which is a common misconception. What they are referring to are just the polyps covered in sclerites. Thomas & George (1987), Rao & Devi (2003) and Venkataraman et al. (2004) just list the species.