Paracis pustulata ( Wright & Studer, 1889 )

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 : 65-66

Paracis pustulata ( Wright & Studer, 1889)

Acis pustulata Wright & Studer, 1889: 122–123 , pl. 24, fig. 1, 1a; pl. 27, fig. 6 ( Hyalonema ground, Japan).

Opinion: There is no evidence this species occurs in the region.

Justification:

These Indian records seem to be either invalid or unconfirmable: Thomson & Simpson 1909: 234–236 (Andamans).

Literature analysis: It seems this species does not occur in India because the description published by Thomson & Simpson (1909) indicates they had a different species. Their colony was described as extremely densely branched— forming a "felt-like" "maze", whereas the holotype is sparsely branched; the point sclerites are recorded as smooth, bent, with a few warts on the convex side, whereas in the holotype they have dentate edges and some looked like the thornscales of Paramuricea ; the large coenenchymal plates do not fit closely, whereas in the holotype they have irregular dentate edges that mesh with the neighbouring sclerites; and there are caterpillar-like sclerites where some have a projecting spine at the upper edge of one end, which are not present in the holotype. Also, the holotype was collected from deep water off Japan.