Published February 7, 2023 | Version v1
Taxonomic treatment Open

Melithaea philippinensis

Description

Melithaea philippinensis (Wright & Studer, 1889)

Melitodes philippinensis Wright & Studer, 1889: 176–177, pl. 40, figs. 10, 10A, 10B (Philippines).

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: 172–173, pl. 5, figs. 2&4; pl. 9, fig. 12 (Andamans).

Literature analysis: Originally named Melitodes philippinensis, the description given by Wright & Studer (1889) is too inadequate to be able to identify the species they had, and the same can be said of the account by Thomson & Simpson (1909). Additionally, it is virtually impossible to find any common features when comparing the sclerite figures in these two publications. Rao & Devi (2003) and Kumar et al. (2019) just listed the species as occurring in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with absolutely no evidence. In the paper by Kumar et al, “ Acabaria phiippinenesis (Wright & Studer) ” is given as the only synonym.

Notes

Published as part of 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, pp. 1-124 in Zootaxa 5236 (1) on page 31, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5236.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7639327

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Linked records

Additional details

Biodiversity

References

  • Wright E. & Studer, T. (1889) Report on the Alcyonaria collected by H. M. S. Challenger during the years 1873 - 1876. Report of the Scientific results of the voyage of H. M. S. Challenger during 1873 - 1876, Zoology, 31 (4), I - IXXII, 1 - 314.
  • Thomson, J. A. & Simpson, J. J. (1909) An account of the alcyonarians collected by the Royal Indian Marine Survey Ship Investigator in the Indian Ocean. The Alcyonarians of the Littoral Area. The Indian Museum, Calcutta, 319 + xviii pp.
  • Rao, D. V. & Devi, K. (2003) Studies on the soft corals (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) of Andaman Islands, Bay of Bengal. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, Occasional paper, 206, 1 - 99.
  • Kumar, J. S. Y., Geetha, S., Raghunathan, C. & Sornaraj, R. (2019) New report of Melithaea delicata Hickson, 1905 (subclass: oOctocorallia) from Little Andaman Island, India. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences, 48 (9), 1344 - 1350.