Pseudopterogorgia (Williams & Lindo, 1997)

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 : 77

Genus: Pseudopterogorgia

Preliminary remarks: The identification of specimens of Pseudopterogorgia is problematic because, for example, as in the Ellisellidae , the differences between the sclerites of one species and those of another are generally subtle. Consequently, attempts to recognise different taxa are heavily reliant on very detailed analyses of their traits, most especially the architecture of the sclerites, being clearly presented in species descriptions. Additionally, colony forms often do not greatly differ and are shared by different species, and any descriptions should ideally be based on multiple specimens to try to cope with character differences that may only be due to intraspecific variation.

Of the 26 species reported to occur in the region, only 6 are not authored by Fernando (2011). Unfortunately, these accounts all contain images of masses of sclerites that are all far too small to see any detail, and they are also generally based on only one or several specimens (admittedly unavoidable). Attempts to use these accounts to discriminate between the nominal taxa are further complicated when scales are omitted from the figures and when all of the data required for comparisons are not consistently documented for each taxon. With 20 new species of this genus being erected it is perhaps not surprising that, from what data are available, many of the nominal taxa can probably be synonymised. For example, their specimens of Pseudopterogorgia thomasisini and P. vedalaiensis appear to represent the same species, both have two types of spindles, and there are many obvious similarities within the following groups:

A) Pseudopterogorgia balasbrumanii , P. flexibilis , P. filiformis , P. kotapatnamensis , P. mangalorensis , P. philipi and P. rubra .

B) P. anastomosans , P. australiensis ( Ridley, 1884) , P. formosa , P. kodiakaraiensis , P. rubrotincta Thomson & Henderson, 1905 , and P. williamsi

C) P. mandabamensis , ( P. kodiakaraiensis ), P, pandianii .

D) P. fredericki Williams & Vennam, 2001 , P. undulata

E) P. olivae , ( P. rubra ).