16 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. II, January, 1948 
is the same as Spinther miniaceus Grube 
(I860), he retained the second name since it 
was deemed undesirable to retain the first for 
a form that may be southern in distribution. 
However, a specific name may not be rejected for 
inappropriateness (Article 32, Int. Rules Zodl. 
Nomen.). Furthermore, the name Spinther 
arcticus Wiren (1883) was retained for another 
species which differs from the older S. arcticus 
(Sars). Again, the rules of nomenclature dic¬ 
tate that a specific name is to be rejected as a 
homonym when it has been previously used for 
another species of the same genus (Article 35). 
S. arcticus (Sars) therefore has priority over 
S. miniaceus Grube, and the latter becomes a 
synonym of the former. S. arcticus Wiren is 
a homonym and to be rejected. I propose 
S. wireni, new name, for the latter species. 
The name S. major Levinsen (1883) was 
proposed to replace S. arcticus Hansen (1882) 
(not Sars nor Wiren). It was shown by 
von Graff (1888) to be the same as S. onis- 
coides [= S. citrina (Stimpson)]. 
The known species of Spinther are thus: 
(1) S. arcticus (Sars), which includes S. mini¬ 
aceus Grube, from western and southern Europe; 
(2) 5'. australiensis Augener, from southwestern 
Australia; (3) S. citrina (Stimpson), which 
includes 5. oniscoides von Graff (not Johnston), 
from eastern Canada and the New England 
states; (4) 5. oniscoides Johnston, from Ireland; 
and (5) 5. wireni, new name, wdiich includes 
5. arcticus Wiren, not Sars, nor Hansen, from 
Bering Sea. A sixth species, 5. alaskensis, is 
newly described below. 
Key to Species of Spinther 
1. Ventrum papillate...... 2 
1. Ventrum smooth or only wrinkled. 4 
2. Distal end of neurosetal shaft crenulate; 
notosetae largely entire at tip, a few 
bifid... S. citrina (Stimpson) 
2. Distal end of neurosetal shaft trilobate; 
notosetae entire except for a very few, 
very slender, bifid ones........ 
... S. alaskensis new species 
2. Distal end of neurosetal shaft entire.. 3 
3. Notosetae bifid only....5. oniscoid.es Johnston 
3. Notosetae bifid and entire, in equal num¬ 
ber and about equally thick..... 
.....5. wireni new name 
4. Neurosetae with a large lateral tooth. 
... S. australiensis Augener 
4. Neurosetae without a lateral tooth.. 
.......5. arcticus (Sars) 
Chart Showing Comparison of Characters for Species of Spinther 
Name of 
Species 
Parapodial 
Cirri 
Neurosetae 
Number 
of 
Segments 
Length 
IN MM. 
Ventrum 
Shape 
Distal end 
OF SHAFT 
Notosetae 
S. oniscoides 
Johnston 
papillate 
present 
falcate 
smooth 
smooth 
bifid only 
(Riddel, 
1909: 103) 
20-25 
4-13 
S. citrina 
(Stimpson) 
papillate 
present 
falcate 
smooth 
crenulate 
largely entire, 
a few bifid, the 2 
equally thick 
(Graff, 1888: 17) 
30-48 
11-26 
S. wireni 
new name 
papillate 
present 
falcate 
smooth 
smooth 
bifid and entire in 
equal number and 
equally thick 
43-52 
20-25 
S. alaskensis 
new species 
papillate 
present 
falcate 
smooth 
trilobed 
entire except for 
very few, very 
slender bifid ones 
46-47 
ca. 28 
S. arcticus 
(Sars) 
smooth 
absent 
falcate 
smooth 
entire 
bifid only 
12-24 
1-9 
S. australiensis 
Augener 
smooth 
absent 
falcate, 
lateral 
tooth 
? entire 
bifid only 
15-31 
4.5-7.5 
