Elasmogorgia filiformis Wright & Studer, 1889

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 : 59

Elasmogorgia filiformis Wright & Studer, 1889

Elasmogorgia filiformis Wright & Studer, 1889: 133 , pl. 23, fig. 10; pl. 27, fig. 7 (Arafura Sea).

Opinion: There is no evidence this species occurs in the region.

Justification:

These Indian records seem to be either invalid or unconfirmable: Thomson & Simpson 1909: 238 (Ganjam coast, India).

Literature analysis: Matsumoto & van Ofwgen (2016) who reviewed the genus Elasmogorgia listed Thomson & Simpson’s account (which was not illustrated) as representing a questionable synonym and offered no real opinion as to the material’s true identity. Because the Indian material was described as having calyces up to 1 mm tall with the sclerites sometimes arranged in 8 groups and polyps with a collaret and points arrangement, which are not characters of Elasmogorgia , it is possible it is a species of Astrogorgia . The specimens need to be re-examined.