Melithaea ornata ( Thomson & Simpson, 1909 )

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 : 30

Melithaea ornata ( Thomson & Simpson, 1909)

Melitodes ornata Thomson & Simpson, 1909: 173–174 , pl. 5, figs. 3, 9; pl. 9, fig. 11 (Andaman Sea).

Opinion: This species does occur in the region.

Justification:

Literature analysis: This species was originally described as a species of Melitodes , which is a synonym of Melithaea . Three of the sclerites figured by Thomson and Simpson (1909) are in the form of large, complex, unilaterally foliate spheroids, which caused Hickson (1937) to suggest the species was not a Melitodes but close Mopsella rubeola ( Wright & Studer, 1889) , although the sclerites look more like what he had figured for Wrightella . The species has never been properly described and would be very difficult to recognise. Kumar et al. (2019) just listed the species, as did Rao & Devi (2003): the latter still under the old original genus Melitodes .