Trimuricea reticulata ( Thomson & Simpson, 1909 )

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 : 71

Trimuricea reticulata ( Thomson & Simpson, 1909)

Echinomuricea reticulata Thomson & Simpson, 1909: 206–207 , pl. 1, fig. 9; pl. 8, fig. 6 (Andamans).

Trimuricea reticulata Gordon 1926: 516 , fig. 3; Grasshoff 1999: 48, fig. 80; Samimi-Namin & Ofwegen 2016: 32 , figs. 21c, 24–25.

Not Trimuricea aff. reticulata Samimi-Namin & van Ofwegen, 2009: 43 . (= Trimuricea persica n. sp.).

Opinion: This species does occur in the region.

Justification:

These Indian records seem to be invalid: Fernando 2011: 49, pl. 26, figs 1–1e (SE coast); Fernando et al. (2017): 105, pl. 47, fig. 1–1e (SE coast).

Literature analysis: Originally described as Echinomuricea reticulata the species was reassigned to Trimuricea by Gordon and was comprehensively redescribed by Samimi-Namin & van Ofwegen (2016). Both publications of Fernando (2011) and Fernando et al. (2017) describe the same material, which appears to be a different species because the triradiate thornscales do not have a long narrow spine with small prickles and rather flattened rootprocess with a tuberculate margin as occurs in the type material. Also, the authors do not show any 3-rayed polyp sclerites that are typical of the genus, so without more detailed descriptions and larger illustrations of the sclerites it would be difficult to recognise their species and to distinguish it from Trimuricea persica Sammimi-Namin & van Ofwegen, 2016 , from the Persian Gulf. The description of Fernando’s specimen says branch anastomoses are mostly around the middle of the colony, which is hard to reconcile with the illustration. Rao & Devi (2003) just list the species. Trimuricea robusta Fernando, 2011 (see below) is much closer to Trimuricea reticulata .