lO SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. ^^i 



Stolephorus Lacepedc, 1803: type Stolcphorus coiinucrsonianus Lacepede. 



Under the head of Stolephorus, Lacepede (Hist. Nat. Poiss. V. 381, 1803) 

 mentions two species, the first the Athcrina japonica of Houttuyn, the second 

 his own S. commersonianus. From the latter he derives his description, and 

 on the latter Bleeker bases the genus Stolephorus as largely accepted. The 

 Athcrina japonica is very briefly and incorrectly described by Houttuyn, and 

 it has been taken for granted that it was congeneric with the other, and being 

 the first species named, it was indicated as type of the genus by Jordan & 

 Evermann in 1896. It is probable, however, that Houttuyn had in mind the 

 species of another family, named by Bleeker, Spratclloides argyroiaenia. In 

 1917 (Genera of Fishes, 67) the present writer gave reasons for retaining 

 A. japonica as type of Stolephorus, thus replacing Spratclloides Bleeker, while 

 Stolephorus of Bleeker and authors generally would stand as Anchoviella 

 Fowler. But it would make far less confusion as well as secure substantial 

 justice to retain Stolephorus for the large group of which .S'. commersonianus 

 is typical. 



Teuthis Linnaeus, 1766 : type Tcuthis javtis L. 



In the twelfth edition of the Systema Naturae, Linnaeus introduces th'; 

 genus Tcuthis, with two species, Tcuthis hepatus and Tcuthis jainis. These 

 species under polynomial names constitute the genus Hepatus, of the non- 

 binomial Zoophylaceum of Gronow, 1763. The name Tcuthis was taken from 

 Browne (Jamaica), 1756, a pre-Linnaean writer, whose type was congeneric 

 with that of Forskal's Acanthurus. 



The two Linnaean species of Tcuthis are but distantly related, a fact recog- 

 nized by various subsequent writers. In 1775, the relatives of hepatus were 

 set off by Forskal as Acanthurus, those of javus as Siganns. Cuvier used 

 Teuthyes as a group name covering both types, the one being called Acan- 

 tliurus, the other, after Bloch and Schneider, 1801, Amphacanthiis. 



The first author after Linnaeus to use Tcuthis as a generic name was 

 Cantor, 1849. It here replaces Siganus, with a correct definition and the Lin- 

 naean species Tcuthis javus, placed at the head of the series. 



In this usage, Giinther and all European writers have followed, and al- 

 though the word "type" is not mentioned by Cantor, the arrangement will 

 bear rigorous interpretation. 



Later Gill showed reasons why Tcuthis hepatus should have been taken as 

 type, Tcuthis being a re-naming of Hepatus of Gronow, by reverting to the 

 still earlier name of Browne. There is room for argument on both sides, but 

 inasmuch as the first reviser (Cantor) selected Teuthis javus as type of Tcuthis 

 and current nomenclature outside of America uses Acanthurus for hepatus 

 and its relatives and Teuthis instead of Siganus, I recommend that this 

 course be approved by the Commission. In my own papers I have lately fol- 

 lowed the suggestion of Dr. Gill, replacing the familiar Acanthurus by 

 Tcuthis or by Hepatus, reviving Siganus for the javus group. I am inclined 

 to think this change unnecessary as it was certainly confusing, and that to 

 follow Cantor is in better accord with established rules. 



Opinion prepared l)y Commissioner David Starr Jordan. 

 Report on final vote : Two names Acfobatus and Lampefra have 

 been tabled withont prejudice pending" fnrther discussion at the next 



