September, 1999 
SCAMIT Newsletter 
Vol. 18, No. 5 
CHARACTER 
recti 
mills i 
shoe 
mien) 
pect 
varia 
lati 
amer 
setos 
guij 
G1 palm orientation 
0 
2 
2 
1 
2 
0 
2 
0 
1 
0 
G1 basis marginal setae 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
G1 coxa setal pattern 
0 
1 
0 
? 
0 
0 
0 
1 
0 
0 
G2 dactyl/propod length ratio 
0 
5 
2 
6 
2 
3 
1 
5 
2 
1 
G2 propod dorsal setal groups 
2 
8 
1 
2 
1 
3 
1 
5 
0 
0 
G2 propod ventral setal groups 
6 
10 
4 
6 
5 
7 
2 
7 
6 
3 
G2 propod length/max width 
4 
7 
6 
8 
5 
6 
6 
7 
3 
5 
G2 propod width/basis width 
0 
0 
0 
2 
0 
1 
2 
1 
0 
0 
P7 posterior lobe of basis 
1 
2 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
P7 post marginal setae on basis 
0 
2 
2 
1 
0 
0 
2 
0 
0 
0 
Table 1. - Character table for Synchelidium 
6. the number of ventral setal groups on 
the propod of G2 - scored directly 1=1, 
2=2, etc. Groups may have a single 
member and still be counted as a positional 
group. The anterior-most group, which 
points anteriorly off the tip of the fixed 
finger is not counted. It is not considered a 
ventral group. 
7. the ratio of G2 propod length to 
maximum width - expressed as nearest 
whole number, (i.e. .71mm/ .08mm = 
8.875, score 9) 
8. maximal propod width vs. basis width 
on G2 - wider than basis [0], subequal to 
basis [1], narrower than basis [2] 
9. extent of posterodistal lobe on the basis 
of P7 - no lobe [0], a short lobe not 
reaching beyond the distal margin of article 
3 [1], a long lobe extending along the 
posterior margin of article 4 [2] 
10. the nature of, or lack of, posterior 
marginal setation on the basis of P7 - 
setae present throughout [0], setae absent 
[1], setae proximally only [2]. All setae on 
the posterior margin of the basis of P7 
should be simple. There are in many 
species a series of long plumose setae 
attached to a ridge on the median face of 
the basis. These usually extend posteriorly, 
and reach beyond the posterior margin of 
the basis. THESE ARE NOT MARGINAL 
SETAE, they are facial setae, and are not 
counted in scoring this character. 
These ten characters seem to adequately 
separate the described species (the western 
Pacific species latipalpum, and gurjanovae, 
and the western Atlantic species americanum 
are also included in the table) according to 
Table 1. 
Character 2 - setae of the anterior margin of the 
basis of G1 is invariant for these species as 
scored. It is retained until we finish examining 
our own specimens. If it is not useful in 
separation after they are examined, the scoring 
10 
