Villogorgia fallax ( 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 : 72-73

Villogorgia fallax ( Kükenthal, 1924)

Perisceles fallax nom. nov. Kükenthal, 1924: 196.

Acamptogorgia bebrycoides Thomson & Henderson 1906: 70 , pl. 6, figs. 4&5 ( Laccadive Sea); Thomson & Simpson 1909: 229 (Malabar coast).

Not Muricea bebrycoides Von Koch, 1887: 52 , fig. 48 (Mediterranean Sea) (= Villogorgia bebrycoides ).

Not Acamptogorgia bebrycoides new comb. Studer 1901: 49 (= Villogorgia bebrycoides ).

Not Paracamptogorgia bebrycoides new. comb. Kükenthal, 1924: 197 (= Villogorgia bebrycoides ).

Opinion: This species does occur in the region.

Justification:

Literature analysis: Thomson and Henderson (1906), and later Thomson & Simson (1909), reported the occurrence of Muricea bebrycoides von Koch, 1887 under the name Acamptogorgia bebrycoides , but is not clear if these authors were aware that von Koch’s species had previously been transferred to the genus Acamptogorgia by Studer (1901). Kükenthal considered that Acamptogorgia bebrycoides was not the same as Muricea bebrycoides , which was originally described from the Mediterranean, and that the specimen collected by the Investigator represented a new species. As the name Acamptogorgia bebrycoides already existed, Kükenthal changed the species name to fallax . He also re-assigned the Indian material to the genus Periceles, a senior synonym of Acamptogorgia . At the same time, Kükenthal reassigned Muricea bebrycoides to the genus Paracamptogorgia .

The genera Acamptogorgia, Periceles and Paracamptogorgia are now all considered as junior synonyms of Villogorgia . The sclerites of Villogorgia fallax have never been illustrated and the species is not recognisable.