NO. 1/99 NOMENCLATURE OF STARFISHES — FISHER QI 



Pentaceros, Pentagonaster, and Astropecten. 



Until recent years, and long after it had been agreed to abandon 

 pre-Linnsean names, these three genera were attributed to Linck's 

 "De Stellis Marinis," 1733. Even Lndwig, in "Die Seesterne des 

 Mittelmeeres," 1897, followed the same course. Slad'en, in 1889 

 ("Challenger" Asteroidea), adopted many of Linck's specific names, 

 and the three generic names noted above. When it became evident, 

 however, that adherence to generally accepted rules of nomenclature 

 would be necessary, and that Linck's pre-Linnaean and non-binomial 

 names would have to be relinquished, Schulze's booklet, "Betrach- 

 tung der Versteinerten Seesterne und ihrer Theile" (Warschau und 

 Dresden, 1760, 58 pp., 3 plates), was hastily invoked to save 

 Pcntaccros^ and Astropecten. Then Pcntagonaster was attributed 

 to Schulze, but the author who accomplished this commendable 

 piece of research inconsistently overlooked Pentadactylns (since ac- 

 ceptance of that name would invalidate Linckia). 



I recently examined for the first time, in Washington, a copy of 

 Schulze's work, and showed it to Dr. Theodore Gill, Dr. Leonhard 

 Stejneger, and Mr. H. C. Oberholser, all experts in matters of 

 nomenclature. Each gave his opinion independently and emphatic- 

 ally that Schulze's names are not tenable. 



These names are mostly derived from Linck's "De Stellis 

 Alarinis." There is no evidence that Schulze knew anything about 

 binomial nomenclature, for he does not conform to the Linnaean 

 system, and his so-called binomials are greatly outnumbered by 

 single names. Both kinds are used in a specific or descriptive sense, 

 as "Der Lederartige, coriacea" [^genus V, Stella coriacea, Linck, 

 p. 30]. Those names in binomial form, such as Peiitagoiiaster reg- 

 iilaris and Astropecten regnlaris, are not genus and species, but are 

 a more elaborate descriptive term, in imitation of Linck. They are 

 really the modifying portion of a trinomial, of which the "generic" 

 name is mentioned previously (quinquefidce). Schulze has no real 

 genera. He divides (p. 49) his starfishes into two classes, £ssce 

 (=Asteroidea) and integrcc (r=Ophiuroidea). The former he sub- 

 divides into three genera (Geschlechte), according to the number of 

 arms. In the first genus he places all which have less than five rays 

 (stellce oligactce), and details several kinds, as der Dreistral, Trisac- 



' Sladen first called attention to Pentaceros Schulze, but did so, rather dis- 

 dainfully, for the benefit of those who refused to accept Linck's names. 

 Sladen said that Pentaceros was used by Schulze "exactly in Linck's sense," 

 overlooking the fact that "Linck's sense" of Pentaceros was a combination of 

 Hippasteria, Oreast'cr, and Asterina! 



