Melithaea retifera ( Lamarck, 1816 )

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 : 31

Melithaea retifera ( Lamarck, 1816)

Melitaea retifera Lamarck, 1816: 299

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. 2019a: 1517–1518, figs. 1–3 (Havelock Is.).

Literature analysis: Originally named Melitaea retifera , the taxonomic details of this old Lamarck species are unknown, so it is not possible to objectively identify any specimens as this species. Kumar et al. (2019a) obviously based their description on “? Mopsella retifera ( Lamarck, 1816) ” in the paper by Ofwegen (2000), but appear to have misunderstood the context. They used a near identical synonymy list but included Isis aurantia Esper , which Ofwegen had stated was not a synonym. Several early authors (see Kükenthal 1924: 67) placed Melitaea retifera as a synonym of Mopsella aurantia ( Esper, 1798) , original name Isis aurantia Esper, 1798 , but Isis aurantia has been found not to be a Mopsella (see Grasshoff 1991).

Kolliker (1865: pl. 19, fig. 38) figured a coenenchymal sclerite of a form typical for some species of Mopsella from what he claimed was a specimen of Melitaea retifera . Ofwegen (2000: 298) likened this sclerite form to a flower bud and on the assumption that the original Melitaea retifera may have been a Mopsella he described a species of that genus that had “flower-bud”-like sclerites, but he offered the disclaimer: “...we provisionally describe the species as Mopsella retifera ( Lamarck, 1816) . Whether Lamarck’s Melitaea retifera is the same as the presently described material is a subject for further research.” Regardless, the coenenchymal “flower-buds”, spindles, and calyx leaf clubs figured by Kumar et al. are quite different to those illustrated by Ofwegen.