Ellisella grasshoffi Fernando, 2011

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 : 89

Ellisella grasshoffi Fernando, 2011 (species status uncertain)

Ellisella grasshoffi Fernando, 2011: 111–112 , pl. 70, fig. 1–1e (Thiruchendur); Fernando et al. 2017: 236, pl. 109, fig. 1–1e (Thiruchendur).

Nicella gemmacea ( Valenciennes, 1855) in Fernando 2011: 125, pl. 87, figs. 1–1d (Cuddalore); in Fernando et al., 2017: 292, pl. 137, figs. 1–1d (Cuddalore).

? Ellisella bayeri Fernando, 2011 .

Opinion: This species does occur in the region.

Justification:

Literature analysis: Fernando (2011) and Fernando et al. (2017) both present identical descriptions, but without a more detailed descriptions and more illustrations of the sclerites from the polyps and the coenenchymal layers it is difficult to distinguish their species from any similar taxa, and also extremely difficult to establish the status of the species without a revision of the genus.

Fernando (2011) and Fernando et al. (2017) described a species named Nicella gemmacea ( Valenciennes, 1855) with “ Nicella gemmacea ( Bayer & Grasshoff, 1994, p.21) ” as a synonym. It is not clear what the authors’ intentions were because that species and that synonymic reference do not exist. However, the form of the figured specimen and the illustrated sclerites show it is actually a species of Ellisella and although the sclerite images are too small for an accurate comparison, the identity of the specimen is probably the same as that of the specimens identified as Ellisella grasshoffi : it is also very similar to Ellisella bayeri Fernando, 2011 . See Dichotella gemmacea above for the occurrence of duplicate synonymies.