Astrogorgia bengalensis ( Thomson & Henderson, 1906 ) 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 : 44

Astrogorgia bengalensis ( Thomson & Henderson, 1906) new comb.

Muricella bengalensis Thomson & Henderson, 1906: 78 , pl. 1, fig. 8, pl. 8, fig. 2 (Andamans; Bay of Bengal).

Opinion: This species occurs in the region but was originally misidentified.

Justification:

Literature analysis: This species was erected for material collected from the Bay of Bengal. The figured colony portions, particularly that in plate 1, fig. 8 can be interpreted as representing calyces and retractile polyps. As the sclerites of the calyces and coenenchyme are all spindles, we think it is safe to reassign the species to Astrogorgia . The specimen was described by Thomson & Henderson (1906) as being rose-red with a white tentacular operculum and appears to be very similar to A. milka Grasshoff, 2000 , which is violet to pink with white calyces.