Euplexaura amerea Grasshoff, 1999

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 : 60

Euplexaura amerea Grasshoff, 1999

Euplexaura amerea Grasshoff, 1999: 36–37 , fig. 55–58 ( New Caledonia).

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

Justification:

These Indian records seem to be either invalid or unconfirmable: Kumar et al. 2014a: 82, pl. 38, fig. A–D (Munak Gate); Fernando et al. 2017: 75, pl. 31, fig. A–D (Munak Gate).

Literature analysis: The accounts of Kumar et al. (2014a) and Fernando et al. (2017) are identical but it is impossible to know the true characteristics of their specimen as a large proportion of the text is taken word-forword from Grasshoff’s paper. However, neither the colony (which has an unusual shape) nor the sclerite figures match those of the holotype. The sclerites of the holotype are described and figured as small, blunt ellipsoids, almost spherical in shape, relatively uniform in size and with small tubercles. The text of Kumar et al. (2014a) and Fernando et al. (2017) duplicates this but the figured sclerites are quite different, and they are stated to be up to twice the size. Also, the polyp sclerites bear no resemblance to those of the holotype, particularly the collaret sclerite at the base of the pair of point sclerites in the latter.