Astrogorgia robusta ( Thomson & Simpson, 1909 ), 2023

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 : 47

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5236.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:796FF9F5-E71F-4C69-92CC-CF4D6752BD77
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7639451
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/0388B641-7B38-FF82-FF56-FE50FCD0FCD0
treatment provided by	Plazi (2023-02-08 15:54:05, last updated 2024-11-28 18:43:59)
scientific name	Astrogorgia robusta ( Thomson & Simpson, 1909 )
status	comb. nov.

Treatment

Astrogorgia robusta ( Thomson & Simpson, 1909) new comb.

Muricella robusta Thomson & Simpson, 1909: 257–258 View in CoL , pl. 5, fig. 8 (Andamans).

Opinion: This species occurs in the region but was originally misidentified.

Justification:

Literature analysis: Although no sclerites were figured in the original description, a reasonably good drawing of a branch fragment and some polyps was provided. This clearly shows the anthocodia sitting on the rim of calyces and a dense covering of spindles, all of which is described in the text indicating this species is an Astrogorgia . Rao & Devi (2003) just list the species under the original name.

References

Rao, D. V. & Devi, K. (2003) Studies on the soft corals (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) of Andaman Islands, Bay of Bengal. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, Occasional paper, 206, 1 - 99.

Thomson, J. A. & Simpson, J. J. (1909) An account of the alcyonarians collected by the Royal Indian Marine Survey Ship Investigator in the Indian Ocean. The Alcyonarians of the Littoral Area. The Indian Museum, Calcutta, 319 + xviii pp.