Bebryce studeri Whitelegge, 1897

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 : 50

Bebryce studeri Whitelegge, 1897

Bebryce studeri Whitelegge, 1897: 314 , pl. 17, fig. 21–25 (Funafuti): Grasshoff 1999: 63, figs. 106–108 ( New Caledonia); Bayer & van Ofwegen 2016: 346 (type description).

Opinion: There is not enough evidence that this species occurs in the region.

Justification:

These Indian records seem to be either invalid or unconfirmable: Fernando, 2011: 42–43, pl. 19, fig. 1–1f (SE coast of India); Kumar et al. 2014a: 72, pl. 33, fig. A–C (Havelock); Fernando et al. 2017: 87, pl. 38, fig. A–C (SE coast of India; Andaman and Nicobar Is.).

Literature analysis: In the account of the species given by Fernando (2011) and Fernando et al. (2017) the text is identical, but the illustrations are different and all but one of the specimens examined (ZSI/ANC: 6064) are the same. However, in the account of the species by Kumar et al. (2014a) and Fernando et al. (2017) the text is different but the illustrations are identical and must be of ZSI/ANC: 6064, which is the only specimen featured by Kumar et al. (2014a). The few sclerites illustrated by Kumar et al. (2014a) are very different from those of the holotype as figured by Bayer & Ofwegen (2016), but the true nature of the Indian specimen is unknown as the description of the sclerites by Kumar et al. (apart from one line) is taken word-for-word from Grasshoff’s 1999 text. The description given by Fernando et al. (2017) clearly refers to the illustrations in Fernando (2011), but the sclerite images are far too small and far too crowded to be able to see sufficient detail in order to recognise the species. However, in plate 19, fig. 1e of Fernando (2011), the large collaret sclerite is quite unlike those of the holotype (see Bayer & Ofwegen 2016), and there are warty ovals with a waist, a little like those in B crucifera Bayer, 1981 (see Bayer & Ofwegen, 2016: fig. 11d), that do not occur at all in B. studeri . Kumar et al. (2015) just lists the species and presents the image of the ZSI/ANC: 6064 colony.