Verrucella dichromata Fernando 2017

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 : 100

Verrucella dichromata Fernando 2017 (species status uncertain)

Verrucella bicolor Fernando, 2011: 116 , pl. 75, fig. 1–1d (Cuddalore).

Verrucella dichromata nom. nov. Fernando et al., 2017: 266, pl. 124, fig. 1–1d (SE coast).

Opinion: This species does occur in the region but its status is uncertain and it is probably the same as a number of other Verrucella species described by Fernando (2011) and Fernando et al. (2017).

Justification:

These Indian records appear to represent identical species: Fernando, 2011: 119–120, pl. 79, fig. 1–1d (between Puducherry and Cuddalore); Fernando et al. 2017: 272, pl. 127, fig. 1–1d (between Puducherry and Cuddalore); Fernando, 2011: 120–121, pl. 81, fig. 1–1d (Nagapatinam); Fernando et al. 2017: 278, pl. 130, fig. 1–1d (Nagapatinam).

Literature analysis: This species was originally named Verrucella bicolor by Fernando (2011), a name that was unfortunately preoccupied by Verrucella bicolour Nutting, 1908 . The new name Verrucella dichromata was proposed by Fernando et al. (2017) without any explanation.

The descriptions of the Indian material by Fernando (2011) and Fernando et al. (2017) are identical. The specimen used by these authors has a bilateral polyp distribution, and from the available data, and allowing for some slight differences in sclerite dimensions (where they are known), it is not possible to distinguish this taxon from the identity of the material they assigned to Verrucella diadema Grasshoff, 1999 , Verrucella ixoboloides Fernando, 2011 , and Verrucella pinnata Fernando, 2011 , and they may all be the same as some of the material used for their description of Verrucella umbraculum ( Ellis & Solander, 1786) .