Paraplexaura longispinosa

Paraplexaura longispinosa (Fernando, 2011) potential new comb. (species status uncertain)

Echinogorgia longispinosa Fernando, 2011: 58–59, pl. 35, fig. 1–1f (Puducherry); Fernando et al. 2017: 123, pl. 56, fig. 1–1f (Puducherry).

Opinion: This species does occur in the region.

Justification:

Literature analysis: The accounts of the Indian material by Fernando (2011) and Fernando et al. (2017) are identical, but most of the sclerites in the figures are crowded and overlap. Detailed descriptions and more images of the sclerites are needed to be more certain of the identity of the material, but the shape of the colony, the thick branches, and the presence of large thorny spindles and block-like sclerites in the coenenchyme indicate the species is better placed in Paraplexaura. The sclerites seem to be somewhat similar to, but thornier than, those of Paraplexaura heterospiculata (Broch, 1916), but that species is unbranched. Kumar et al. (2016) just lists the species.