Acanthogorgia macrospiculata Fernando, 2011

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 : 37-38

Acanthogorgia macrospiculata Fernando, 2011 (species status uncertain)

Acanthogorgia macrospiculata Fernando, 2011: 30–31 , pl. 9, fig. 2–2d (Yerwadi); Fernando et al. 2017: 52, pl. 20, fig. 1–1d (Yerwadi).

Opinion: This species does occur in the region.

Justification:

Literature analysis: The accounts of the Indian material by Fernando (2011) and Fernando et al. (2017) are the same, and the material described is rather unusual. The growth form of the specimen is not that of an Acanthogorgia but rather of a plexaurid such as Paraplexaura , and the coenenchyme contains large, irregular spindles up to 1.5 mm long with complex warts and spine-like branches, which is uncommon for an Acanthogorgia . However, among the figured sclerites are some that look like the characteristic crown spines of an Acanthogorgia , and Acanthogorgia densiflora (Kükenthal & Gorzawski, 1908) as described by Stiasny (1947: 25–28, text figs. A, B) is an example of species with thorny spindles in the coenenchyme. Without a detailed description of the sclerites and close-up images of the polyps it is not possible to recognise this species, and without a revision of the genus it would probably be impossible to assess its validity.