Melobesia amplexifrons Harvey, 1849 [1847–1849]: 110–111 (type locality: Port Natal [Durban], South Africa).—Areschoug, 1852: 513.— Rosanoff, 1866: 75, pl. VII: figs. 2, 3.— Barton, 1893: 202.
Lithophyllum amplexifrons (Harvey) Heydrich, 1897a: 51.—Foslie, 1900d: 5.— De Toni, 1905: 1788.— Foslie, 1907a: 27–28.— De Toni, 1924: 686.— Lucas & Perrin, 1947: 393.— Adey & Lebednik, 1967: 15.— V. Krishnamurthy & Jayagopal, 1985b: 80, 82, figs. 12, 13.— Woelkerling & Campbell, 1992: 98–99, fig. 63.
Pneophyllum amplexifrons (Harvey) Chamberlain & R. Norris, 1994a: 10, figs. 1–45.—Chamberlain & R. Norris, 1994b: 291, 292, fig. 8.
Taxonomic synonym:
* Lithophyllum pseudolichenoides Heydrich, 1902: 475–476 (type locality: near Fort-Dauphin [Taolanaro], Madagascar).—Adey & Lebednik, 1967: 16.
Lithothamnion pseudolichenoides (Heydrich) Lemoine, 1910: 370.—Lemoine, 1911: 85–87, figs. 39–40.
INDIAN OCEAN DISTRIBUTION: India, Madagascar, South Africa.
Note: The synonymy was proposed by Foslie (1907a: 27–28). The binomial Lithophyllum pseudolichenoides was listed (as pseudo-lichenoides) in a paper by Hariot (1902: 472) published simultaneously with Heydrich's description. Wilks & Woelkerling (1991: 527) referred to a manuscript by Woelkerling & Campbell in which Melobesia amplexifrons was to be assigned to Spongites. In the published paper, however, Woelkerling & Campbell (1992: 98–99) stated that the lectotype specimen was referable to Pneophyllum. According to Chamberlain & R. Norris (1994a: 15), the record from India (V. Krishnamurthy & Jayagopal, 1985b: 80, 82) is apparently representative of a different species.