Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Monograph
Published: 2023-02-07
Page range: 1-124
Abstract views: 752
PDF downloaded: 52

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

1Faculty of Ocean Science and Technology, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), Kochi, Kerala 682506, India.
2Division of Oceans & Atmosphere, The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
3Department of Aquatic Environment Management, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), Kochi, Kerala 682506.
Diptera Marine biodiversity Indian Ocean Sri Lanka Maldives Western Myanmar checklist species sea fans octocorals

Abstract

The descriptive taxonomic records of a total of 226 gorgonian species (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) from Indian seas and neighbouring areas were surveyed and critically reviewed with the main aim of providing a more reliable checklist. The published accounts comprise: species originally described from within the region: subsequent descriptive records of the taxa originally described from within the region; and subsequent descriptive records of species originally described from outside of the region. The reviews include an attempt to assess the validity of all subsequent descriptive records, although in numerous cases the species have been assessed as unrecognisable from their type descriptions. Numerous new binomial combinations, some tentative, have been proposed. The assessment of the validity of a species record is expressed as an “Opinion” with supporting justification. Of the 226 species, there are 111 that were originally described from locations outside of Indian waters and have subsequently been described and recorded as occurring in the region. Of these, there are 9 species where we were unable to decide if the records are valid or not, 94 were assessed as invalid, 5 as possibly valid and 3 were considered valid. The survey highlights four major problems regarding the reliability of some more recently published taxonomic records for the region: the use of ‘predatory journals’; plagiarism; the use of manipulated imagery in more than one description; and taxonomic decision apparently based on expediency.

 

References

  1. Kumar, J.S.Y. & Raghunathan, C. (2015) Check list of Indian gorgonians with a new report of Melithaea variabilis (Family: Melithaeidae) from Andaman and Nicobar Island, India. Scholars Academic Journal of Biosciences, 3, 804–813.
    Kumar, J.S.Y., Geetha, S. & Sornaraj, R. (2016) Studies on the Shallow Water Octocorals from the Coast of Gulf of Mannar, India. Scholars Academic Journal of Biosciences, 4, 1045–1053.
    Kumar, J.S.Y., Geetha, S., Raghunathan, C. & Venkataraman, K. (2014) New species of soft corals (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) on the coral reef of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. International Journal of Integrative sciences, Innovation and Technology, 3, 8–11.
    Kumar, J.S.Y., Geetha, S., Satyanarayana, Ch., Venkataraman, K. & Kamboj, R.D. (2014c) New species of soft corals (Octocorallia) on the reef of Marine National Park, Gulf of Kachchh. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biological Research, 2, 50–55.
    Kumar, J.S.Y., Raghunathan, C. & Chandra, K. (2017) Annotated checklist of Octocorallia from Indian coast. LAP Lambert Academic Publishing, Mauritius, 144 pp.

  2. Publications from non-predatory sources:
    Alderslade, P. (1986) An unusual leaf-like gorgonian (Coelenterata: Octocorallia) from the Great Barrier Reef. The Beagle, 3 (1), 81–93. https://doi.org/10.5962/p.260876
    Alderslade, P. (2000) Four new genera of soft corals (Coelenterata: Octocorallia), with notes on the classification of some established taxa. Zoologische Mededelingen, Leiden, 74 (16), 237–249.
    Alderslade, P. & McFadden, C.S. (2007) Pinnule-less polyps: a new genus and new species of Indo-Pacific Clavulariidae and validation of the soft coral genus Acrossota and the family Acrossotidae (Coelenterata: Octocorallia). Zootaxa, 1400 (1), 27–44. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1400.1.2
    Alderslade, P. & Shirwaiker, P. (1991) New species of soft corals (Coelenterata: Octocorallia) from the Laccadive Archipelago. Beagle: Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, 8, 189–233. https://doi.org/10.5962/p.262820
    Aurivillius, M. (1931) The Gorgonarians from Dr. Sixten Bock’s expedition to Japan and Bonin Islands 1914. Kungliga Svenska Vetenskaps-akademiens Handlingar, 9 (4), 1–337.
    Bayer, F.M. (1955) Contributions to the nomenclature, systematics, and morphology of the Octocorallia. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 105 (3357), 207–220. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00963801.105-3357.207
    Bayer, F.M. (1956) Descriptions and redescriptions of the Hawaiian octocorals collected by the U.S. Fish Commission Steamer “Albatross” (2. Gorgonacea: Scleraxonia). Pacific Science, 10 (1), 67–95.
    Bayer, F.M. (1957) Additional records of Western Atlantic octocorals. Journal of Washington Academy of Sciences, 47 (11), 379–390.
    Bayer, F.M. (1958) Les Octocoralliaires plexaurides des cotes occidentales d’Amerique. Mémoires du Museum national d’histoire naturelle, Paris, Nouvelle Serie (A), 16 (2), 41–56.
    Bayer, F.M. (1959) Octocorals from Suriname and adjacent coasts of South America. Studies on the fauna of Suriname and other Guyanas, 6, 1–43.
    Bayer, F.M. (1961) The shallow-water Octocorallia of the West Indian region. Studies on the Fauna of Curaçao and other Caribbean Islands, 12 (1), 1–373.
    Bayer, F.M. (1979) Distichogorgia sconsa, a new genus and new species of chrysogorgiid octocoral (Coelenterata: Anthozoa) from the Blake Plateau off northern Florida. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 92 (4), 876–882.
    Bayer, F.M. (1981) Status of knowledge of octocorals of world seas. Seminários de Biologia Marinha, Academia Brasileira de Ciências, 1981, 3–11.
    Bayer, F.M. (1982) Some new and old species of the primnoid genus Callogorgia Gray, with a revalidation of the related genus Fanellia Gray (Coelenterata: Anthozoa). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 95 (1), 116–160.
    Bayer, F.M. (1990) A new isidid octocoral (Anthozoa: Gorgonacea) from New Caledonia, with descriptions of other new species from elsewhere in the Pacific Ocean. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 103 (1), 205–228.
    Bayer, F.M. & Grasshoff, M. (1994) The genus group taxa of the family Ellisellidae, with clarification of the genera established by J.E. Gray (Cnidaria; Octocorallia). Senckenbergiana biologica, 74 (1/2), 21–45.
    Bayer, F.M. & Ofwegen, L.V. (2016) The type specimens of Bebryce (Cnidaria, Octocorallia, Plexauridae) re-examined, with emphasis on the sclerites. Zootaxa, 4083 (3), 301–358. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4083.3.1
    Bayer, F.M. & Stefani, J. (1987) New and previously known taxa of isidid octocorals (Coelenterata: Gorgonacea), partly from Antarctic waters. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 100 (4), 937–991.
    Bayer, F.M. & Stefani, J. (1988) Primnoidae (Gorgonacea) de Nouvelle-Calédonie. Bulletin du Museìum national d’histoire naturelle, Paris, 10 (A), 3, 449–476.
    Benayahu, Y. (2002) Soft corals (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) of the southern Ryukyu Archipelago: The families Tubiporidae, Clavulariidae, Alcyoniidae and Briareidae. Galaxea, 4, 11–32. https://doi.org/10.3755/jcrs.2002.11
    Benayahu, Y., Shlagman, A. & Schleyer, M.H. (2003) Corals of the South-west Indian Ocean: VI. The Alcyonacea (Octocorallia) of Mozambique, with a discussion on soft coral distribution on south equatorial East African reefs. Zoologische Verhandelingen Leiden, 345, 49–57.
    Bhagirathan, U., Panda, S.K., Madhu, V.R. & Meenakumari, B. (2008) Occurrence of live octocorals in the trawling grounds of Veraval coast of Gujarat, Arabian Sea. Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 8, 369–372.
    Bielschowsky, E. (1918) Eine Revision der Familie Gorgoniidae. Schlesische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat zu Breslau. Bruchdruckerei II, Fleischmann, Breslau, 66 pp.
    Bilewitch, J.P., Ekins, M., Hooper, J. & Degnan, S.M. (2014) Molecular and morphological systematics of the Ellisellidae (Coelenterata: Octocorallia): parallel evolution in a globally distributed family of octocorals. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 73, 106–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2014.01.023
    Breedy, O. & Guzman, H.M. (2011) A revision of the genus Heterogorgia Verrill, 1868 (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Plexauridae). Zootaxa, 2995 (1), 27–44. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2995.1.2
    Brito, A. & Ocaña, O. (2004) Corales de las islas Canarias. Francisco Lemus Editor, La Laguna, 477 pp.
    Broch, H. & Horridge, A. (1956) A new species of Solenopodium (Stolonifera: Octocorallia) from the Red Sea. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 128 (2), 149–160. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1957.tb00263.x
    Brundin, J.A.Z. (1896) Alcyonarien aus der Sammlung des Zoologischen Museum in Uppsala. Bihang till Kongl. Svenska Vetenskaps-akademiens Handlingar, 22 (4), 1–22.
    Bryce, M., Radford, B. & Fabricius, K. (2018) Soft coral and sea fan (Octocorallia) biodiversity and distribution from a multitaxon survey (2009–2014) of the shallow tropical Kimberley, Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement, 85, 45–73. https://doi.org/10.18195/issn.0313-122x.85.2018.045-073
    Cairns, S.D. (2007) Studies on western Atlantic Octocorallia (Gorgonacea: Ellisellidae). Part 7: The genera Riisea Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860 and Nicella Gray, 1870. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 120 (1), 1–38. https://doi.org/10.2988/0006-324X(2007)120[1:SOWAOG]2.0.CO;2
    Cairns, S.D., Gerhswin, L.A., Brook, F., Pugh, P.R., Dawson, E.W., Ocaña, V.O., Vervoort, W., Williams, G., Watson, J., Opresko, D.M., Schuchert, P., Hine, P.M., Gordon, D.P., Campbell, H.J., Wright, A.J., Sanchez, J. & Fautin, D.G. (2009) Phylum cnidaria; corals, medusae, hydroids, Myxozoa. In: Gordon, D.P. (Ed.), New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Vol 1. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch, pp. 59–101
    Carpine, C. & Grasshoff, M. (1975) Les gorgonaires de la Mediterranee. Bulletin de l’Institut océanographique de Monaco, 71 (1430), 1–140.
    Carvalho, S., Cúrdia, J., Pereira, F., Guerra-García, J.M., Santos, M.N. & Cunha, M.R. (2014) Biodiversity patterns of epifaunal assemblages associated with the gorgonians Eunicella gazella and Leptogorgia lusitanica in response to host, space and time. Journal of Sea Research, 85, 37–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2013.10.001
    Cordeiro, R.T., Cairns, S.D. & Perez, C.D. (2017) A revision of the genus Radicipes Stearns, 1883 (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Chrysogorgiidae). Zootaxa, 4319 (1), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4319.1.1
    Cordeiro, R.T.S., Castro, C.B. & Pérez, C.D. (2015) Deep-water octocorals (Cnidaria: Octocorallia) from Brazil: Family Chrysogorgiidae Verrill, 1883. Zootaxa, 4058 (1), 81–100. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4058.1.4
    Cúrdia, J., Carvalho, S., Pereira, F., Guerra-García, J. M., Santos, M.N. & Cunha, M.R. (2015) Diversity and abundance of invertebrate epifaunal assemblages associated with gorgonians are driven by colony attributes. Coral reefs, 34, 611–624. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-015-1283-1
    Daly, M., Brugler, M.R., Cartwright, P., Collins, G.A., Dawson, M.N., Fautin, D.G., France, S.C., McFadden, C.S., Opresko, D.M., Rodriguez, E., Romano, S.L. & Stake, J.L. (2007) The phylum Cnidaria: a review of phylogenetic patterns and diversity 300 years after Linnaeus. Zootaxa, 1668 (1), 127–182. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1668.1.11
    Deichmann, E. (1936). The Alcyonaria of the western part of the Atlantic Ocean. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College, 53, 1–317. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.49348
    Ellis, J. & Solander, D. (1786) The Natural History of many curious and uncommon zoophytes, collected by the late John Ellis and systematically arranged and described by the Daniel Solander. Benjamin White & Son, London, xii + 208 pp., 63 pls. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.2145
    Erhardt, H. & Moosleitner, H. (1995) Ordung Gorgonaria. In: Meerwasser Atlas. Bd. 2. Wirbellose Tiere. Mergus, Melle, pp. 738–1328.
    Esper, E.J.G. (1791) Die Pflanzenthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit. Farben erleuchtetnebst Beschreibungen. Theil 2. Raspischen Buchhandlung, Nürnberg, 180 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.118730
    Esper, E.J.G. (1791–1797) Die Pflanzenthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit. Farben erleuchtet nebst Beschreibungen, Nürnberg. [unknown pagination] https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.118730
    Esper, E.J.G. (1798) Die Pflanzenthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit. Farben erleuchtet nest Beschreibungen, Nürnberg, 48 pp.
    Fabricius, K. & Alderslade, P. (2001) Soft corals and sea fans: a comprehensive guide to the tropical shallow-water genera of the Central-West Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Queensland, 262 pp.
    Fernando, S.A. (2011) Monograph on Gorgonids (Sea fans) of India. Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Parangipettai, 145pp.
    Fernando, S.A, Venkataraman, K. & Raghunathan, C. (2017) Gorgonians of Indian sea. Director, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, 330pp. Available from: https://www.nhbs.com/ (accessed 21 March 2022)
    Geetha, S., Kumar, J. S.Y, Raghunathan, C. & Sornaraj, R. (2018) Space competition studies between Briareum violaceum (Octocorallia; Alcyonacea) and scleractinian corals in Shark Island, north Andaman, India. Indian Journal of Geo Marine Studies, 47 (12), 2390–2394.
    Germanos, N.K. (1895) Gorgonaceen von Ternate nach den Sahmlungen Prof. Dr. W. Kükenthal’s. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 18 (490), 444–452
    Gnanambal, M.E.K, Chellaram, C. & Edward, J.K.P. (2005) Isolation of antagonistic marine bacteria from the surface of the gorgonian corals at Tuticorin, southeast coast of India. Indian Journal of Marine Sciences, 34 (3), 316–319.
    Goh, N.K.C. & Chou, L.M. (1995) Growth of five species of gorgonians (sub‐class Octocorallia) in the sedimented waters of Singapore. Marine Ecology, 16 (4), 337–346. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0485.1995.tb00416.x
    Goh, N.K.C. & Chou, L.M. (1996) An annotated checklist of the gorgonians (Anthozoa: Octocorallia) of Singapore, with a discussion of gorgonian diversity in the Indo-West Pacific. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 44 (2), 435–459.
    Gohar, H.A.F. (1948) A description and some biological studies of a new alcyonarian species Clavularia hamra Gohar. Publications of the Marine Biological Station of Al-Ghardaqa, Red Sea, 6, 3–33.
    Gordon, I. (1926) Notes on a number of muriceid genera (Alcyonaria, Gorgonaceae), with special reference to spiculation. Proceedings of the scientific meetings of the Zoological Society of London, 1926, 509–531. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1926.tb08111.x
    Goulet, T.L., Shirur, K.P., Ramsby, B.D. & Iglesias-Prieto, R. (2017) The effects of elevated seawater temperatures on Caribbean gorgonian corals and their algal symbionts, Symbiodinium spp. PloS one, 12 (2), e0171032. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0171032
    Grant, R.B. (1976) The marine fauna of New Zealand: Isididae (Octocorallia: Gorgonacea) from New Zealand and the Antarctic. Memoirs of the New Zealand Oceanographic Institute, Wellington, 66, 1–56.
    Grasshoff, M. (1973) Die Gorgonaria des östlichen Nordatlantik und des Mittelmeeres: II. Die Gattung Acanthogorgia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa). Auswertung der “Atlantischen Kuppenfahrten von F. S. “Meteor. “Meteor-Forschungs-Ergebnisse, D13, pp. 1–10.
    Grasshoff, M. (1976) Gorgonaria aus Riffen von Eilat, Rotes Meer (Cnidaria: Anthozoa), Senckenbergiana boil. Frankfurt, 77 (1), 23–35.
    Grasshoff, M. (1977) Die Gorgonarien des östlichen Nordatlantik und des Mittelmeeres. III. Die Familie Paramuriceidae (Cnidaria, Anthozoa). Meteor Forschungs Ergebnisse, D (27), 5–76.
    Grasshoff, M. (1999) The shallow water gorgonians of New Caledonia and adjacent islands (Coelenterata: Octocorallia). Senckenbergiana biologica, 78 (1/2), 1–121.
    Grasshoff, M. (2000) The gorgonians of the Sinai coast and the Strait of Gubal, Red Sea (Coelenterata, Octocorallia). Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, 224, 1–125.
    Grasshoff, M. & Alderslade, P. (1997) Gorgoniidae of Indo-Pacific reefs with description of two new genera (Coelenterata: Octocorallia). Senchenbergiana biologica, 77 (1), 23–35.
    Grasshoff, M. & Bargibant, G. (2001) Les gorgones des récifs coralliens de Nouvelle Calédonie. Institut de recherche pour le developpement, Paris, 335 pp.
    Gravely, F.H. (1927) The littoral fauna of Krusadai Island. Alcyonaria. Bulletin of the Madras Government Museum, Natural History Section, 1 (1), 25–30.
    Gray, J.E. (1857) Description of a new genus of Gorgoniadae. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 25 (1), 158–159. [1859] https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1857.tb01221.x
    Gray, J.E. (1857a) Synopsis of the families and genera of axiferous zoophytes or barked corals. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 25 (1), 278–294. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1857.tb01242.x
    Gray, J.E. (1859) Description of some new genera of lithophytes or stony zoophytes. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1859, 479–486.
    Gray, J.E. (1860) Description of some new genera of Lithophytes, or stony Zoophytes. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1859, 479–486.
    Gray, J.E. (1862) Description of two new genera of Zoophytes (Solenocaulon and Bellonella) discovered on the north coast of Australia by Mr. Rayner. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1862, 34–37.
    Gray, J.E. (1870) Notes on some new genera and species of alcyonoid corals in the British Museum. The Annals and magazine of natural history, Series 4, 5, 405–408. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222937008696186
    Gray, J.E. (1870a) Catalogue of lithophytes or stony corals in the collection of the British Museum. British Museum, London, 51 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.11307
    Grudniewicz, A., Moher, D., Cobey, K.D., Bryson, G.L., Cukier, S., Allen, K., Ardern, C., Balcom, L., Barros, T., Berger, M., Ciro, J.B., Cugusi, L., Donaldson, M. R., Egger, M., Graham, I.D., Hodgkinson, M., Khan, K.M., Mabizela, M., Manca, A., Milzow, K., Mouton, J., Muchenje, M., Olijhoek, T., Ommaya, A., Patwardhan, B., Poff, D., Proulx, L., Rodger, M., Severin, A., Strinzel, M., Sylos-Labini, M., Tamblyn, R., van Niekerk, M., Wicherts, J.M. & Lalu, M.M. (2019) Predatory journals: no definition, no defence. Nature, 576, 210–212. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-03759-y
    Harrison, R.M. (1908) Some New Alcyonaria from the Indian and Pacific Oceans. —Preliminary Notice. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 30 (197), 185–190. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1908.tb02132.x
    Harrison, R.M. (1909) On some new Alcyonaria from the Indian and Pacific Oceans, with a discussion of the genera Spongodes, Siphonogorgia, Chironephthya, and Solenocaulon. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, 11, 17–44, pls. 3–7. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1909.tb00488.x
    Hentschel, E. (1903) Gorgonacea von Amboina und Thursday Island. Zoologische Forschungsreisen in Australien und dem Malayischen Archipel. Ausgefuhrt in den Jahren 1891–1893 von Richard Semon, 5. Band, 6. Lieferung. Denkschriften der Medizinisch-naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft zu Jena, 1903, 643–652.
    Hickson, M.A. (1903) The Alcyonaria of the Maldives. Part III. The Families Muriceidae, Gorgonellidae, Melitodidae, and the Genera Pennatula, Eunephthya. In: Gardiner, J.S. (Eds.), The Fauna and Geography of the Maldive and Laccadive Archipelagoes. Cambridge University Press, London, pp. 807–826 + lxvii.
    Hickson, M.A. (1905) The Alcyonaria of the Maldives. Part I. The Genera Xenia, Telesto, Spongodes, Nephthya, Paraspongodes, Chironephthya, Siphonogorgia, Solenocaulon, and Melitodes. In: Gardiner, J.S. (Eds.), The Fauna and Geography of the Maldive and Laccadive Archipelagoes. Cambridge University Press, London, pp. 473–502 + xxvi–xxvii.
    Hickson, S.J. (1904) The Alcyonaria of the Cape of Good Hope. Part II. Marine Investigations in South Africa, 3, 211– 239.
    Hickson, S.J. (1931) Three species of Alcyonaria from the Gulf of Manaar. Bulletin of the Madras Government Museum, Natural History Section, 1 (2), 79–89.
    Hickson, S.J. (1937) The Family Melitodidae. Transactions of the Zoological Society, 23 (1), 74–212. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1937.tb00362.x
    Hickson, S.J. (1938) The Gorgonacea from Torres Straits collected by Prof. A.C. Haddon, F.R.S., 1888-89, with notes on the genera Hicksonella and Pseudothesea. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 108 (3), 585–610. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1938.tb08533.x
    Hickson, S.J. (1940) The species of genus Acabaria in the Red Sea. Publications of the Marine Biological Station of Al-Ghardaqa, Red Sea, 2, 3–22.
    Hiles, I.L. (1899) s.n. In: The Gorgonacea collected by Dr. Willey. Zoological Results based on material from New Britain, New Guinea, Loyalty Islands and elsewhere collected during the years 1895, 1896 and 1897, by Arthur Willey. Part 2. University Press, Cambridge, pp. 195–206.
    Imahara, Y. (1996) Previously recorded octocorals from Japan and adjacent seas. Precious Corals & Octocoral Research, 4–5, 17–44.
    Jones, S. (1959) Notes on animal associations 1. A porcellanid crab on the sea pen, Pteroeides esperi Herklots. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India, 1, 178–179.
    Kinoshita, K. (1909) On some muriceid corals belonging to the genera Filigella and Acis. The journal of the College of Science, University of Tokyo, 27 (7), 1–16.
    Kinoshita, K. (1913) Studien uber einige Chrysogorgiiden Japans. The journal of the College of Science, University of Tokyo, 33 (2), 1–47.
    Klunzinger, C.B. (1877) Die Korallthiere des Rothen Meeres. I. Alcyonarien und Malacodermen. Gutmann’schen Buchhandlung (Otto Enslin), Berlin, 98 pp.
    Kolliker, R.A. (1865) Die bidessubstanz der Coelentraten. In: Kolliker, A (Ed.), Icons histiologicae oder Atlas der verglechenden Gewebelehre. Wilhelm Engelmann, Leipzig, pp. 95–181. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.82233
    Kükenthal, W. (1906) Alcyonacea. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Tiefsee-Expedition auf dem Dampfer “Valdivia” 1898–1899, 13 (1), Lieferung 1, 1–111. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.82676
    Kükenthal, W. (1908) Diagnosen neuer Gorgoniden (4. Mitteilung). Zoologischer Anzeiger, 33 (1), 9–20.
    Kükenthal, W. (1909) Diagnosen neuer Alcyonarien. Zoologischen Anzeiger, Leipzig, 35, 46–53.
    Kükenthal, W. (1910) Alcyonaria. 1. Teil. In: Michaelsen, W. & Hartmeyer, R. (Eds.), Die Fauna Sudwest-Australiens. Ergebnisse der Hamburger sudwest-australischen Forschungsreise, 3 (1), 1–108. [1905]
    Kükenthal, W. (1913) Alcyonaria des Roten Meeres. Zoologische Ergebnisse, 29, 1–34.
    Kükenthal, W. (1915) System und Stammesgeschichte der Isididae. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 46, 116–126.
    Kükenthal, W. (1919) Gorgonaria. Wissensschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Tiefsee–Expedition auf dem Dampfer “Valdivia”, 1898–1899, 13, 1–946.
    Kükenthal, W. (1924) Gorgonaria. Das Tierreich. Vol. 47. Walter de Gruyter and Co., Berlin und Leipzig, xxviii + 478 pp.
    Kumar, J.S.Y., Geetha, S., Raghunathan, C. & Sornaraj, R. (2018) A note on shallow water octocorallia from Nicobar Islands, India. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences, 47, 60–66.
    Kumar, J.S.Y., Geetha, S., Raghunathan, C. & Sornaraj, R. (2018a) Diversity and distribution of gorgonians (Octocorallia) in the Long Island and it’s adjacent areas in Middle Andaman, India. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences, 47, 96–102.
    Kumar, J.S.Y., Geetha, S., Raghunathan, C. & Sornaraj, R. (2019) New report of Melithaea delicata Hickson, 1905 (subclass: oOctocorallia) from Little Andaman Island, India. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences, 48 (9), 1344–1350.
    Kumar, J.S.Y., Geetha, S., Raghunathan, C. & Sornaraj, R. (2019a) New record of Melithaea retifera (Lamarck, 1816) from Andaman and Nicobar Island, India. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences, 48 (10), 1516–1520.
    Kumar, J.S.Y., Geetha, S., Raghunathan, C. & Sornaraj, R. (2019b) Diversity and distribution of shallow water octocorallia from Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, South Andaman, India. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences, 48 (10), 1567–1575.
    Kumar, S.V., Pathak, K.C., Pednekar, P., Raju, N.S.N. & Gowthaman, R. (2006) Coastal processes along the Indian coastline. Current Science, 91 (4), 530–536.
    Kumar, J.S.Y., Raghunathan, C., Raghuraman, R., Sreeraj, C.R. & Venkataraman, K. (2014a) Handbook on Gorgonians (Octocorallia) of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Director, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, 119 pp.
    Kumar, J.S.Y., Raghunathan, C. & Venkataraman, K. (2015) Abundance of shallow water octocorals in the Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago, India. In: Venkataraman, K. & Sivaperuman, C. (Eds.), Marine faunal diversity in India: taxonomy, ecology and conservation. London Academic Press, London, pp. 15–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-801948-1.00002-1
    Lam, K. & Morton, B. (2008) Soft corals, sea fans, gorgonians (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) and black and wire corals (Ceriantipatharia: Antipatharia) from submarine caves in Hong Kong with a checklist of local species and a description of a new species of Paraminabea. Journal of Natural History, 42 (9–12), 749–780. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222930701862708
    Lamarck, M.C. (1815) Sur les polypiers corticiferes. Mémoires du Museum national d’histoire naturelle Paris, 2, 76–84.
    Lamarck, M.C. (1816) Histoire naturelle des animaux sans vertèbres. Tome Second. Verdière, Paris, 568pp.
    Linnaeus, C. (1758) Systema naturae. Editio Decima, reformata 1. Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae, 824 pp.
    Linnaeus, C. (1767) Systema naturae. Editio duodecima, reformata 1. Impensis direct. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae, 1328 pp.
    MacFadyen, L.M.I. (1936) Alcyonaria (Stolonifera, Alcyonacea, Telestacea and Gorgonacea). Great Barrier Reef Expedition Scientific Reports, 5 (2), 19–72.
    Mai-Bao-Thu, F. & Domantay, J.S. (1970) Taxonomie studies of the Philippine gorgonaceans in the collections of the University of Santo Tomas, Manila. Acta Manila, A (6), 25–73.
    Manzo. E., Ciavatta, M.L., Gresa, M.P.L., Gavagnin, M., Villani, G., Naik, C.G. & Cimino, G. (2007) New bioactive hydrogenated linderazulene–derivatives from the gorgonian Echinogorgia complexa. Tetrahedron Letters, 48 (14), 2569–2571. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tetlet.2007.02.020
    Manzo, E., Ciavatta, M.L., Gavagnin, M., Villani, G., Quaranta, C., D’Souza, L. & Cimino, G. (2009) A new xenicane norditerpene from the Indian marine gorgonian Acanthogorgia turgida. Natural Product Research, 23 (18), 1664–1670. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410802144941
    Mary, A.G. & Lazarus, S. (2004) Gorgonids off the southwest Coast of India. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India, 46, 32–43.
    Mary, A.G. & Sluka, R.D. (2014). Biodiversity and distribution of octocorals of Minicoy Atoll, Lakshadweep. Atoll Research Bulletin, 6, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00775630.602
    Mary, A.G., Sluka, R.D. & Lazarus, S. (2011) Octocoral diversity and distribution on the south–west Indian coast. Marine Biodiversity Records, 4 (e16), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755267211000066
    Matsumoto, A.K. & van Ofwegen, L.P. (2016) Species of Elasmogorgia and Euplexaura (Cnidaria, Octocorallia) from Japan with a discussion about the genus Filigella. ZooKeys, 589, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.589.8361
    Matsumoto, A.K., Iwase, F., Imahara, Y. & Namikawa, H. (2007) Bathymetric distribution and biodiversity of cold-water octocorals (Coelenterata: Octocorallia) in Sagami Bay and adjacent waters of Japan. Bulletin of Marine Science, 81 (1), 231–251.
    May, W. (1898) Die von Dr. Stuhlmann im Jahre 1889 gesammelten ostafrikanischen Alcyonaceen des Hamburger Museums. Jahrbuch der Hamburgischen Wissenschaftlichen Anstalten, 15 (2), 1–38. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.23020
    McFadden, C.S., Sánchez, J.A. & France, S.C. (2010) Molecular phylogenetic insights into the evolution of Octocorallia: a review. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 50 (3), 389–410. https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icq056
    McFadden, Catherine, S., van Ofwegen, Leen, P. & Quattrini, Andreas, M. (2022) Revisionary systematics of Octocorallia (Cnidaria_Anthozoa) guided by phylogenomics. The Bulletin of the Society of Systematic Biologists, 1 (3):8375. https://doi.org/10.18061/bssb.v1(3):8735
    Milne Edwards, H. & Haime, J. (1857) Histoire naturelle des coralliaires ou polypes proprement dits, Vol. 1. à la Libraire Encyclopédique de Roret, Paris, xxxiv + 326 pp., 8 pls., numbered A1–6 + B1–2. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.11574
    Mishra, P.M., Baliarsingh, S., Sree, A., Padhan, S.K. & Mohanty, P.P. (2014) Study and comparison of fatty acid profile of two gorgonians of the Family Paramuriceidae. Chemistry of Natural Compounds, 50 (1), 114–116. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10600-014-0880-5
    Nayar, K.N. & Mahadevan, S. (1965) Underwater ecological observations in the Gulf of Mannar off Tuticorin. IV. The occurrence of crinoids (Lamprometros and Comanthus) on the gorgonid Juncella, Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India, 7, 456–457.
    Nutting, C.C. (1908) Descriptions of the Alcyonaria collected by the U.S. bureau of fisheries steamer Albatross in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands in 1902. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 34 (1624), 543–601. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00963801.34-1624.543
    Nutting, C.C. (1910) The Gorgonacea of the Siboga Expedition III. The Muriceidae. Siboga-Expeditie Monograph, 13b, 1–108.
    Nutting, C.C. (1910a) The Gorgonacea of the Siboga Expedition IV. The Plexauridae. Siboga-Expeditie Monograph, 13b1, 1–20.
    Nutting, C.C. (1910b) The Gorgonacea of the Siboga Expedition V. The Isidae. Siboga-Expeditie Monographs, 13b2, 1–23.
    Nutting, C.C. (1910c) The Gorgonacea of the Siboga Expedition VI. The Gorgonidae. Siboga- Expeditie Monographs, 13b4, 1–11.
    Nutting, C.C. (1910d) The Gorgonacea of the Siboga Expedition VII. The Gorgonellidae. Siboga- Expeditie Monographs, 13b3, 1–39.
    Nutting, C.C. (1911) The Gorgonacea of the Siboga Expedition VIII. The Scleraxonia. Siboga-Expeditie Monographie, 13b, 1–62.
    Nutting, C.C. (1912) Descriptions of the Alcyonaria collected by the U.S. Fisheries steamer "Albatross," mainly in Japanese waters, during 1906. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, Washington, 43, 1–104. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00963801.43-1923.1
    Pallas, P.S. (1766) Elenchus zoophytorum sistens generum adumbrationes generaliores et specierum cognitarum succinctas descriptiones cum selectis auctorum synonymis. Apud Franciscum Varrentrapp, Hagae Comitum, 451 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.6595
    Pérez, C.D., Neves, B.M., Cordeiro, R.T., Williams, G.C. & Cairns, S.D. (2016) Diversity and distribution of Octocorallia. In: Goffredo, S. & Dubinsky, Z. (Eds.), The Cnidaria, Past, Present and Future. Springer, Cham, pp. 109–123. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31305-4_8
    Philippi, R.A. (1842) Zoologische Beobachtungen. Archiv für Naturgeschichte, 8 (1), 33–45.
    Pourtalès, L.F. (1868) Contributions to the fauna of the Gulf Stream at great depths (2d series). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 1, 121–142.
    Pratt, E.M. (1903). The Alcyonaria of the Maldives. Part II. The genera Sarcophytum, Arcophytum, Lobophytum, Sclerophytum and Alcyonium. In: Gardiner, J.S. (Eds.), The Fauna and Geography of the Maldive and Laccadive Archipelagoes. Cambridge University Press Warehouse, London, pp. 504–535, pls.
    Pratt, E.M. (1905) Report on some Alcyoniidae collected by Professor Herdman, at Ceylon, in 1902. In: Herdman, W.A. (Eds.), Report of the Government of Ceylon on the Pearl Oyster Fisheries of the Gulf of Manaar. Part 3. Supplementary report. The Royal Society, London, pp. 247–268, pls. I–III.
    Rajalakshmi, S. & George, R.M. (2004) A Study on the gorgonid bed off Chennai and its qualitative appraisal. In: Abidi, S.A.H., Ravindran, M., Venkatesan, R. & Vijayakumaran, M. (Eds.), Proceedings of MBR 2004 National Seminar on New Frontiers in Marine Bioscience Research, 2004, pp 487–499.
    Rajesh, S., Raj, K.D., Mathews, G., Sivaramakrishnan, T. & Edward, J.K. (2014) Status of Alcyonacean corals along Tuticorin coast of Gulf of Mannar, Southeastern India. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences, 43 (4), 666–675.
    Ramvilas, G., Shalu, K., Raghavan, R. & Ranjeet, K. (2019) Mapping octocoral (Anthozoa: Octocorallia) research in Asia, with particular reference to the Indian subcontinent: trends, challenges, and opportunities. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 11 (13), 14691–14721. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.4982.11.13.14691-14721
    Rao, C.B., Ramana, K.V., Rao, D.V., Fahy, E. & Faulkner, D.J. (1988) Metabolites of the gorgonian Isis hippuris from India. Journal of Natural Products, 51 (5), 954–958. https://doi.org/10.1021/np50059a023
    Rao, D.V. & Devi, K. (2003) Studies on the soft corals (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) of Andaman Islands, Bay of Bengal. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, Occasional paper, 206, 1–99.
    Reijnen, B.T., van der Meij, S.E. & van Ofwegen, L.P. (2011) Fish, fans and hydroids: host species of pygmy seahorses. ZooKeys, 103, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.103.953
    Reijnen, B.T., McFadden, C.S., Hermanlimianto, Y.T. & van Ofwegen, L.P. (2014) A molecular and morphological exploration of the generic boundaries in the family Melithaeidae (Coelenterata: Octocorallia) and its taxonomic consequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 70, 383–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2013.09.028
    Ridley, S.O. (1882) Contributions to the knowledge of the Alcyonaria, with descriptions of new species from the Indian ocean and the Bay of Bengal. Journal of Natural History, 9, 184–193.
    Ridley, S.O. (1884) Alcyonaria. In: Report on the Zoological Collections made in the Indo-Pacific Ocean during the Voyage of H.M.S. ‘Alert’ 1881–2. British Museum, London, pp. 327–365, pls. 36–38.
    Ridley, S.O. (1888) Report on the alcyoniid and gorgoniid Alcyonaria of the Mergui Archipelago, collected for the Indian Museum. The Journal of the Linnean Society, London, 21, 223–247. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222938209459020
    Roule, L. (1908) Alcyonaires d’Amboine. Revue Suisse de Zoologie, 16, 161–194. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.37386
    Rowley, S.J. (2018) Acclimatory capacity of the Gorgonian Isis hippuris Linnaeus, 1758 to environmental change in SE Sulawesi, Indonesia. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 500, 73–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2017.12.012
    Rowley, S.J. (2018a) Environmental gradients structure gorgonian assemblages on coral reefs in SE Sulawesi, Indonesia. Coral Reefs, 37, 609–630. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-018-1685-y
    Samimi-Namin, K. & van Ofwegen, L.P. (2009) Some shallow water octocorals (Coelenterata: Anthozoa) of the Persian Gulf. Zootaxa, 2058 (1), 1–52. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2058.1.1
    Samimi-Namin, K. & van Ofwegen, L.P. (2010) An overview of Bebryce (Cnidaria, Octocorallia, Plexauridae) species with tiny rosettes, with the description of a new species from the Gulf of Oman. Zoosystema, 32 (3), 479–493. https://doi.org/10.5252/z2010n3a9
    Samimi-Namin, K. & van Ofwegen, L.P. (2016) A revision of Trimuricea Gordon, 1926 (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Plexauridae) with the description of six new species. Zootaxa, 4105 (1), 1–44. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4105.1.1
    Sánchez, J.A., Dueñas, L.F., Rowley, S.J., Gonzalez-Zapata, F.L., Vergara, D.C., Montaño-Salazar, S.M., Calixto-Botía, I., Gómez, C.E., Abeytia, R., Colin, P.L., Cordeiro, R.T.S. & Pérez, C.D. (2019) Gorgonian Corals. In: Loya, Y., Puglise, K. & Bridge, T. (Eds.), Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems. Springer, Cham, pp. 729–747. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92735-0_39
    Saucier, E.H., Sajjadi, A. & France, S.C. (2017) A taxonomic review of the genus Acanella (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Isididae) in the North Atlantic Ocean, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa, 4323 (3), 359–390. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4323.3.2
    Schuhmacher, H. & Hinterkircher, J. (1996) Nieder Meerestiere. Rotes Meer, Indischer Ozean, Pazifik. Bestimmungsbuch für Taucher und Schnorchler. BLV, München, Wien and Zürich, 319 pp.
    Simpson, J.J. (1906) The structure of Isis hippuris, Linnaeus. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology, 29 (194), 421–434. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1906.tb00443.x
    Simpson, J.J. (1910) A revision of the Gorgonellidae: 1, The Juncellid group. Proceedings of the Royac Irish Academy, 28 B (7), 247–386.
    Sivaleela, G. & Padmanaban (2015). Studies on the Alcyonacean fauna of Gulf of Mannar. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, 115 (1), 21–30.
    Song, J. (1980) A systematic Study on Octocorallia in Korea 5. Paramuriceidae (Holaxonia: Gorgonacea). Korean Journal of Zoology, 23 (1), 25–40.
    Song, J.I. (1981) A Systematic Study on Octocorallia in Kora: 6. Holaxonia (Gorgonacea). The Korean Journal of Zoology, 24 (2), 99–115.
    Spaulding, M.D., Fox, H.E., Allen, G.R., Davidson, N., Ferdaña, Z.A., Finlayson, M., Halpern, S.B., Jorge, M.A., Lombana. A., Lourie, S.A., Martin, K.D., McManus, E., Molnar, J., Recchia, C.A. & Robertson, J. (2007) Marine ecoregions of the world: a bioregionalization of coastal and shelf areas. BioScience, 57 (7), 573–583. https://doi.org/10.1641/B570707
    Stearns, R.E.C. (1883) Descriptions of a new genus and species of alcyonoid polyp, from Japanese waters, with remarks on the structure and habits of related forms, etc. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 6, 96–101. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00963801.6-346.96
    Stiasny, G. (1937) Die Gorgonacea der Siboga-Expedition. Supplement II, Revision der Scleraxonia mit ausschluss der Melitodidae und Coralliidae. Siboga-Expedition Monographs, 13b, 1–138.
    Stiasny, G. (1938) Diagnosen einiger neuer Gorgonarien-Arten aus dem Roten Meere. Zoologischen Anzeiger, Leipzig, 121, 336–341.
    Stiasny, G. (1940) Gorgonaria aus dem Roten Meere. Sammlung Ddr. Cyril Crossland, Ghardaqa, und der., “Mabahith” Expedition 1934–5. Publications of the Marine Biological Station of Al-Ghardaqa, Red Sea, 2, 121–193.
    Stiasny, G. (1942) Ergebnisse der Nachuntersuchung der Muriceidae (Gorgonaria) der Siboga-Expedition. Vorlaufige Mitteilung. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 140 (9/10), 191–199.
    Stiasny, G. (1947) De Gorgonarien-Familie Acanthogorgiidae Kükenth. & Gorz. (Met bijzondere Inachtneming van het Materiaal der Siboga-Expeditie.) Verhandelingen, Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen Afdeling Natuurkunde, Tweede Sectie 43 (2), 1–93, pls. 1–3.
    Stiasny, G. (1959) Alcyonaria I. Gorgonaria aus dem Roten Meere (Sammlung Dr. R. Ph. Dollfus, Paris, aus dem Golf von Suez). In: Mission Robert Ph. Dollfus en Egypte (Decembre 1927–Mars 1929) S.S. “Al Sayad”. Resultats Scientifiques, 3e Partie, XXXIV, pp. 37–65.
    Studer, T. (1878) Uber die mit dem Schleppnetz angestellten Untersuchungen an der Westkuste von Afrika wahrend der Reise S.M.S. Gazelle. Sitzungs-Berichte Gesellsch. naturf. Freunde Berlin, 1878, 135–139.
    Studer, T. (1878a) Übersicht der Anthozoa Alcyonaria, welche während der Reise S.M.S. Gazelle um die Erde gesammelt wurden. Monatsbericht der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, 1878, 632–688.
    Studer, T. (1895) Alcyonarien aus der Sammlung des Naturhistorischen Museums in Lubeck. Mitteilungen der Geographischen Gesellschaft und des Naturhistorischen Museums in Lubeck, 2 (7/8), 103–128.
    Studer, T. (1901) Alcyonaires provenant des campagnes de l’Hirondelle (1886-88). Résultats des campagnes scientifiques du prince Albert Ier de Monaco, 20, 1–64. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.58246
    Subrahmanyam, C., Kulatheeswaran, R. & Ward, R.S. (1998) Briarane diterpenes from the Indian Ocean gorgonian Gorgonella umbraculum, Journal of Natural Products, 61 (9), 1120–1122. https://doi.org/10.1021/np960576v
    Subrahmanyam, C., Kumar, S.R. & Reddy, G.D. (2003) A new pregnane derivative from the Indian Ocean gorgonian Subergorgia suberosa (Pallas). Indian Journal of Chemistry - Section B Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, 42B, 219–220. https://doi.org/10.1002/chin.200317164
    Subrahmanyam, C., Kumar, S.R. & Reddy, G.D. (2005) Bioactive compounds from the Indian Ocean gorgonian Subergorgia suberosa (Pallas). Indian Journal of Chemistry—Section B Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, 44B (10), 2186–2188.
    Subrahmanyam, C., Ratnakumar, S. & Ward, R.S. (2000) Umbraculolides B–D, further briarane diterpenes from the gorgonian Gorgonella umbraculum. Tetrahedron, 56 (26), 4585–4588. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4020(00)00372-0
    Thomas, P.A. (1996) s.n. In: The gorgonid resources and their conservation in India. Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin, pp. 32–41.
    Thomas, P.A. (1998) The unexploited marine resources of India. In: Kadalekum Kanivukal (Bounties of the Sea). CIFT, Cochin, pp. 54–57.
    Thomas, P.A. & George, R.M. (1986) A systematic appraisal of the commercially important gorgonids of the Indian seas. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India, 28 (1 & 2), 96–112.
    Thomas, P.A. & George, R.M. (1987) Gorgonid resources of India. Marine Fisheries Information Services, 74, 1–13.
    Thomas, P.A. & George, R.M. (1989) A systematic appraisal of the commercially important gorgonids of the Indian seas. Journal of Marine Biology Association of India, 28 (1 & 2), 96–112.
    Thomas, P.A. & George, R.M. (1990) Discovery of a Deep water bed off Bombay and its qualitative appraisal. Proceedings First Workshop Scientific Result FORV Sagar Sampada, 1990, 417–425.
    Thomas, P.A. & Jacob, R.M. (1987) On five species of commercially important gorgonids new to Indian seas. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 34, 20–27.
    Thomas, P.A., George, R.M. & Lazarus, S. (1995) Distribution of gorgonids in the northeast coast of India with particular reference to Heterogorgia flabellum (Pallas). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India, 37, 134–142.
    Thomas, P.A., George, R.M. & Manickam, P.E.S. (1998) Deep water Gorgonids collected aboard FORV Sagar Sampada from the Southwest coast of India. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India, 40, 158–165.
    Thomson, J.A. (1905) Appendix to the report on the Alcyonaria collected by Professor Herdman, at Ceylon, in 1902. In: Herdman, W.A. (Ed.), Report to the Government of Ceylon on the Pearl Oyster Fisheries of the Gulf of Manaar, Part 4 (Supplementary Report), pp. 167–186, 1 pl.
    Thomson, J.A. & Crane, G. (1909) The Alcyonarians of Okhamandal. In: Hornell, J. (Eds.), Report Government Baroda Marine Zoology of Okhamandal in Kattiawar. Part 1. Williams and Norgate, London, pp. 125–135.
    Thomson, J.A. & Crane, G. (1909a) Alcyonarians of the Gulf of Cutch. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 8, 3, 362–366. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222930908692591
    Thomson, J.A. & Dean, L.M.I. (1931) The Alcyonacea of the Siboga Expedition with an addendum to the Gorgonacea Siboga-Expeditie Monographie, 13d, 1–227.
    Thomson, J.A. & Henderson, W.D. (1905) Report on the Alcyonaria collected by Professor Herdman, at Ceylon, in 1902. In: Herdman, W.A. (Eds.), Report of the Government of Ceylon on the Pearl Oyster Fisheries of the Gulf of Manaar. Part 3. Supplementary report. The Royal Society, London, pp. 269–238.
    Thomson, J.A. & Henderson, W.D. (1906) An account of the alcyonarians collected by the Royal Indian Marine Survey Ship Investigator in the Indian Ocean. 1. The Alcyonarians of the Deep Sea. The Indian Museum, Calcutta, 132 + xvi pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.8279
    Thomson, J.A. & Mackinnon, D.L. (1910) Alcyonarians collected on the Percy Sladen Trust Expedition by Mr. J. Stanley Gardiner. Part II. The Stolonifera, Alcyonacea, Pseudaxonia and Stelechotokea. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London, 13 (8), 168–211. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1910.tb00515.x
    Thomson, J.A. & Russell, E.S. (1910) Alcyonarians collected on the Percy Sladen Trust Expedition by Mr. J. Stanley Gardiner. Part 1, the Axifera. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, Series 2, 13 (2), 139–164. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1910.tb00515.x
    Thomson, J.A. & Simpson, J.J. (1909) An account of the alcyonarians collected by the Royal Indian Marine Survey Ship Investigator in the Indian Ocean. The Alcyonarians of the Littoral Area. The Indian Museum, Calcutta, 319 + xviii pp.
    Tittensor, D.P., Mora, C., Jetz, W., Lotze, H.K., Ricard, D., Berghe, E.V. & Worm, B. (2010) Global patterns and predictors of marine biodiversity across taxa. Nature, 466, 1098–1101. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature09329
    Tixier-Durivault, A. (1966) Octocoralliaires de Madagascar et des îles avoisinantes. Faune Madagascar, 21, 1–456.
    Tixier-Durivault, A. (1970) Les octocoralliaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie. In: L’Expedition francaise sur les récifs coralliens de la Nouvelle-Calédonie organisée sous l’égide de la Fondation. Singer-Polignac, Paris, pp. 171–350.
    Tixier-Durivault, A. (1972) Nouvel rapport d’octocoralliaires de Madagascar et des iles avoisinantes. Tethys Supplement, 3, 11–68.
    Toeplitz, C.M. (1929) Die Gorgonarien Westindiens. Kap. 7, die Famile Gorgonellidae, zugleich eine Revision. Zoologische Jahrbücher Supplement, 16 (2), 235–376.
    Utinomi, H. (1956) On some alcyonarians from the West-Pacific Islands (Palau, Ponape and Bonins). Publications of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, 5 (2), 221–242. https://doi.org/10.5134/174555
    Utinomi, H. (1976) Shallow-water octocorals of the Ryukyu Archipelago (Part I). Sesoko Marine Science Laboratory Technical Report, 4, 1–5.
    Valenciennes, A. (1855) Extrait d'une monographie de la famille des Gorgonidees de la classe des polypes. Comptes Rendus Des Séances De L’Académie Des Sciences, 55, 7–15. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.28683
    Van Alstyne, K.L. & Paul, V.J. (1992) Chemical and structural defenses in the sea fan Gorgonia ventalina: effects against generalist and specialist predators. Coral reefs, 11 (3), 155–159. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00255470
    van Ofwegen, L.P. (1987) Melithaeidae (Coelenterata: Anthozoa) from the Indian Ocean and the Malay Archipelago. Zoologische Verhandelingen Leiden, 239, 1–57.
    van Ofwegen, L.P. (1990) Notes on the Keroeididae (Anthozoa: Gorgonacea) collected in 1963 and 1964 by the International Indian Ocean Expedition of the R/V "Anton Bruun", in the Indian Ocean, with the description of a new species, Lignella hartogi. Zoologische Mededelingen, 63 (13), 163–168.
    van Ofwegen, L.P. (1996) Octocorallia from the Bismarck Sea (part II). Zoologische Mededelingen, 70 (13), 207–215.
    van Ofwegen, L.P. & Hermanlimianto, M.I.Y.T. (2014) Siboga plexaurids (Coelenterata: Octocorallia) re-examined. Zoologische Mededelingen, Leiden, 88 (3), 19–58.
    van Ofwegen, L.P. & Vennam, J. (1991) Notes on Octocorallia from the Laccadives (SW India). Zoologische Mededelingen Leiden, 65, 143–154.
    van Ofwegen, L.P., Goh, N.K.C. & Chou, L.M. (2000) The Melithaeidae (Coelenterata: Octocorallia) of Singapore. Zoologische Mededelingen, Leiden, 73, 285–304.
    van Oppen, M.J.H., Mieog, J.C., Sanchez, C.A. & Fabricius, K.E. (2005) Diversity of algal endosymbionts (zooxanthellae) in octocorals: the roles of geography and host relationships. Molecular Ecology, 14 (8), 2403–2417. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2005.02545.x
    van Soest, R.W.M. (1979) A catalogue of the coelenterate type specimens of the Zoological Museum of Amsterdam. IV. Gorgonacea, Actiniaria, Scleractinia. Beaufortia, 29 (353), 81–126.
    Varghese, M., George, R.M. & Kasinathan, C. (2007) Recent gorgonid resources of Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay, India. Marine Fisheries Information Service Technical & Extension Series, 194, 14–17.
    Varghese, V.P.L., Abhilash, K.R., Raveendran, T.V. & Parameswaran, P.S. (2014) Microfouling inhibitors from the Indian gorgonian Subergorgia reticulata (Ellis and Solander, 1786). Indian Journal of Marine Sciences, 43 (11), 2094–2100.
    Velayutham, P., Venkataramanujam, K. & Ramadhas, V. (2002) Toxicity and feeding deterrence properties of gorgonian collected from Thoothukkudi coastal waters. In: Patterson, K.E., Murugan, A. & Patterson, J. (Eds.), Proceedings of National Seminar on Marine and Coastal Ecosystems: Coral and Mangrove—problems and management strategies. SDMRI Research Publication, 2, 176–180.
    Venkataramanujam, K. & Sanjeeviraj, G. (1982) The gorgonian resources of Tamil Nadu. Seafood Export Journal, 14, 23–26.
    Venkataraman, K., Jeyabaskaran, R., Raghuram, K.P. & Alfred, J.R.B. (2004) Bibliography and checklist of corals and coral reef associated organisms of India. Records of the Zoological Survey of India. Kolkatta, Occasional Paper, 226, 1–468.
    Venkataraman, K. & Wafar, M.V.M. (2005) Coastal and marine biodiversity of India. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences, 34 (1), 57–75. https://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1544
    Vennam, J, Bhat, K.L. & Parulekar, A.H. (1994) Sarcophyton andamanensis, a new species of soft coral from Andaman Islands. Journal of the Andaman Science Association, 10, 107–111.
    Verrill, A.E. (1864) List of the polyps and corals sent by the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy to other institutions in exchange, with annotations. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy at Harvard College, 1, 29–60.
    Verrill, A.E. (1868) Critical remarks on the halcyonoid polyps in the Museum of Yale College, with descriptions of new genera. The American Journal of Science and Arts, 45, 411–415.
    Verrill, A.E. (1878) Notice of recent additions to the marine fauna of the eastern coast of North America, No. 2. American Journal of Science and Arts, 16 (95), 371–378. https://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.s3-16.93.207
    Verrill, A.E. (1883) Report on the Anthozoa, and on some additional species dredged by the “Blake” in 1877–1879, and by the U.S. Fish Commission steamer “Fish 126 Hawk” in 1880–82. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 11, 1–72.
    Verrill, A.E. (1884) Notice of the remarkable Marine Fauna occupying the outer banks off the Southern Coast of New England. American Journal of Science, 28 (3), 213–220. https://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.s3-28.165.213
    Verrill, A.E., 1865. Synopsis of the polyps and corals of the North Pacific Exploring Expedition, under Commodore C. Ringgold and Captain I. Rodgers, U.S.N., from 1853 to 1856, collected by Dr. Wm. Stimpson, naturalist to the Expedition, with descriptions of some additional species from the west coast of North America. Proceedings of the Essex Institute, Salem, 4, 181–196.
    Verseveldt, J. (1960) Octocorallia from the Malay Archipelago (Part I.). Biological Results of the Snellius Expedition XX. Temminckia, 10, 209–251.
    Verseveldt, J. (1970) Report on some Octocorallia (alcyonacea) from the northern Red Sea. Israel Journal of Zoology, 19, 209–229.
    Verseveldt, J. (1971) Octocorallia from north-western Madagascar (Part 2). Zoologische Verhandelingen / uitgegeven door het Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie te Leiden, 117, 1–73, pls. 1–15.
    Verslyus, J. (1902) Die Gorgoniden der Siboga-Expedition I. Die Chrysogorgiiden. Siboga-Expedition Monograph, 13, 1–120.
    Versluys, J. (1906). Die Gorgoniden Der Siboga-Expedition. II. Die Primnoidae. Siboga-Expedition Monograph, 13a, 1–187.
    Von Koch, G. (1887) Die Gorgoniden des Golfes von Neapel und der angrenzenden Meeresabschnitte. Fauna und Flora des Golfes von Neapel, 15, 1–99.
    Watling, L. & Auster, P.J. (2005) Distribution of deep-water Alcyonacea off the Northeast Coast of the United States. In: Freiwald A. & Roberts J.M. (Eds.), Cold-water corals and ecosystems. Erlangen Earth Conference Series. Springer, Berlin and Heidelberg, pp. 279–296. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-27673-4_13
    Weinberg, S. (1996) Découvrir la mer Rouge et l’océan Indien. Editions Nathan, Paris, 415 pp.
    Whitelegge, T. (1897) The Alcyonaria of Funafuti. Part II. Memoirs of the Australian Museum, 3 (5), 307–320. https://doi.org/10.3853/j.0067-1967.3.1897.498
    Williams, G.C. & Chen, J. (2011) Illustrated key to the shallow-water gorgonians and pennatulaceans of the Verde Island Passage, northern Philippines, including synopses of the taxa and a glossary of terms (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Octocorallia). In: Williams, G.C. & Gosliner, T.M. (Eds.), The Coral Triangle: The 2011 Hearst Philippine Biodiversity Expedition. California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, pp. 67–128.
    Williams, G. C. & Lindo, K. G. (1997). A review of the octocorallian genus Leptogorgia (Anthozoa: Gorgoniidae) in the Indian Ocean and Subantarctic, with description of a new species and comparisons with related taxa. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 49, 499–521.
    Williams, G.C. & Vennam, J.S. (2001) A revision of the Indo-West Pacific taxa of the gorgonian genus Pseudopterogorgia (Octocorallia: Gorgoniidae), with the description of a new species from western India. Bulletin of the Biological Society of Washington, 10, 71–95.
    Wright E. & Studer, T. (1889) Report on the Alcyonaria collected by H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–1876. Report of the Scientific results of the voyage of H.M.S. Challenger during 1873–1876, Zoology, 31 (4), I–IXXII, 1–314.
    Zou, R. & Chen, Y. (1984) Study on the shallow-water Gorgonacea from the coast of Guangdong. Nanhai Studia Marina Sinica, 5, 67–74.