Ellisella ceylonensis ( Simpson, 1910 )

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 : 87

Ellisella ceylonensis ( Simpson, 1910)

Scirpearia ceylonensis Simpson, 1910: 109–111 , fig. 105–107 (off Galle, Sri Lanka).

Opinion: This species does occur in the region.

Justification:

These Indian records seem to be either invalid or unconfirmable: Fernando 2011: 111, pl. 69, fig. 1–1d (Cuddalore); Fernando et al. 2017: 232, pl. 105, fig. 1a–1d (Cuddalore).

Literature analysis: This species was first recorded from Sri Lanka by Simpson under the old name Scirpearia , with only a few small sclerite illustrations. Given the small differences in sclerite shape among the nominal species of Ellisella this leaves the species extremely difficult to recognise. Kükenthal transferred the species to the genus Ellisella and included Verrucella flavifera Nutting, 1910 as a synonym apparently with little evidence because Nutting did not specifically describe or figure the sclerites. The publications of Fernando (2011) and Fernando et al. (2017) both present identical accounts, but without more detailed descriptions and larger illustrations of the sclerites it would be difficult to recognise their species. These authors had a white specimen with many polyps distributed on the branches, whereas the holotype was orange-yellow with reddish polyps that were arranged in 2 single rows along the branches.