Astrogorgia dubia ( Nutting, 1910 ) Ramvilas & Alderslade & Ranjeet, 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 : 45

Astrogorgia dubia ( Nutting, 1910) new comb.

Muricella dubia Nutting, 1910: 34 , pl. 5, figs. 2, 2a, pl. 19, fig. 13 ( Flores Sea).

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

Justification:

These Indian records seem to be either invalid or unconfirmable: Thomas & George 1990: 419–420, pl. 1F, fig. 1C (1–3) (off Bombay); Thomas et al. 1998: 160, fig. 1A (1, 2) (Quilon).

Literature analysis: This species was erected for material from Indonesia and has calyces, retractile polyps and the sclerites are spindles, and it is better placed in Astrogorgia . Thomas & George (1990) also described what appears to be an Astrogorgia species, but the sclerites are “short and stout” and quite different from those figured by Nutting. Thomas et al. (1998) refers to the Thomas & George (1990) account and appear to describe the same species with “short and stout” sclerites.