Echinogorgia flabellum ( Pallas, 1766 )

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 : 53

Echinogorgia flabellum ( Pallas, 1766)

Antipathes flabellum Pallas, 1766: 211–212 ; Esper 1791: 139, Antipathes Tab. 1 (Atlas).

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

Justification:

These Indian records seem to be either invalid or unconfirmable: Thomson & Simpson 1909: 212–213 (Andamans).

Literature analysis: Authors accounts of this species, originally named Antipathes flabellum , tend to attribute it to Esper (1791), while the original author was Pallas (1766). The species was transferred to Echinogorgia by Ridley (1884: 337–339) who gave a detailed description of his material, but the morphological details of this taxon are actually unknown. There cannot, therefore, be any proof that the un-illustrated description by Thomson & Simpson (1909) represents this species. Rao & Devi (2003) only listed the species.