Verrucella pambanensis 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 : 102

Verrucella pambanensis Fernando, 2011 (species status uncertain)

Verrucella pambanensis Fernando, 2011: 120 , pl. 80, fig. 1–1c (Pamban); Fernando et al. 2017: 276, pl. 129, fig. 1–1c (SE coast).

? Verrucella gubalensis Fernando 2011: 118–119 , pl. 78, fig. 1–1c (SE coast); Fernando et al. 2017: 270, pl. 126, fig. 1–1c (SE coast).

Opinion: This species does occur in the region but its status is uncertain and it is probably the same as at least one of the other Verrucella species described by Fernando (2011) and Fernando et al. (2017).

Justification:

Literature analysis: The descriptions of the Indian material by Fernando (2011) and Fernando et al. (2017) are identical. The text says that spindle sclerites reach the same size as the double-heads, up to 0.07 mm, but there several in the figures that are longer than the double-heads, one approximately 0.1 mm. Without more detailed descriptions and larger illustrations of the sclerites it would be difficult to recognise their species, and without a revision of the genus it would probably be impossible to assess its status, but on the data available it seems that the specimen is probably the same species as the Indian specimen these authors assigned to Verrucella gubalensis Grassoff, 2000 .