Auletta lyrata var. brevispiculata Dendy, 1905

Auletta lyrata var. brevispiculata Dendy, 1905: 195; Dendy 1922: 121; Burton 1928: 128, pl. I fig. 10.

The variety was described by Dendy from the Gulf of Mannar, Sri Lanka, approximate coordinates 9°N 79°E (syntypes BMNH 1907.2.1.82 and 83). Dendy’s (1905) description and subsequent information provided by Dendy (1922) and Burton (1928) make it clear that its shape is considerably different from the typical variety of Auletta lyrata (Esper, 1806: pl. LXVII as Spongia, described from Ceylon (= Sri Lanka), redescription by Ehlers 1870: 23 as Raspaigella Schmidt, 1868, type material considered lost) by forming a wide three-dimensional bush of tubes, which may form (dichotomous) branches. I propose in accordance with the suggestion of Dendy (1922) to raise the status of this variety to the rank of species as Auletta brevispiculata Dendy, 1905 .

Auletta lyrata var. glomerata Dendy, 1905 from the Gulf of Mannar, approximate coordinates 9°N 79°E (wet holotype BMNH 1907.2.1.85), has been referred to the synonymy of Auletta aurantiaca Dendy (1889: 92, also from the Gulf of Mannar) by George et al. (2020), because Dendy himself (Dendy 1916) listed this species as a synonym of A. lyrata var. glomerosa, thus correcting the ignored seniority of aurantiac a.