Euplexaura thomsoni Kükenthal, 1924

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 : 61

Euplexaura thomsoni Kükenthal, 1924

Plexaura antipathes var. flexuosa Thomson & Henderson, 1905: 305 (Gulf of Mannar, Sri Lanka).

Euplexaura thomsoni nom. nov. Kükenthal, 1924: 99.

Opinion: This species does occur in the region but its true identity is unknown.

Justification:

These Indian records seem to be either invalid or unconfirmable: Fernando 2011: 39–40, pl. 17, fig. 1–1e (Uvari); Fernando et al. 2017: 80, pl. 34, fig. 1–1e (Uvari).

Literature analysis:

This species was originally described from Sri Lanka as Plexaura antipathes var. flexuosa . Kükenthal (1924) gave the taxon a new name and suggested it belonged in the genus Euplexaura even though the sclerites had been described as “branched rod-like needles and small spherical bodies”. Because Thomson & Henderson (1905) gave no illustrations the species is unrecognisable. The girdled sclerites figured by Fernando (2011) and Fernando et al. (2017) indicate their samples may represent a species of Leptogorgia .