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The hesionid polychaete genera Oxydromus Grube, 1855 and Ophiodromus Sars, 1862 have been regarded as synonyms with the former considered as invalid since it was thought to be a junior homonym of Oxydromus Schlegel, 1854. However, Schlegel’s name is an incorrect subsequent spelling for Ocydromus Wagler, 1830 (Aves, Gruiformes, Rallidae) and is not an available name. Consequently, Oxydromus Grube, 1855 must be reinstated for this hesionid polychaete genus. A check-list of valid species of Oxydromus including 30 new combinations is provided.
Nomenclature, taxonomy, hesionid, Phyllodocida, Annelida
Viéitez et al. (2004:521) realized that Oxydromus Schlegel is an incorrect subsequent spelling of Ocydromus Wagler, 1830 (Aves, Gruiformes, Rallidae) (itself a junior homonym of the beetle genus Ocydromus Clairville, 1806 [Insecta, Carabidae], and replaced by Gallirallus Lafresnaye, 1841). Although Schlegel’s name was used in later publications (e. g.
Preservation of the genus-group name Ophiodromus as the senior synonym would require a reversal of precedence according to Article 23.9 (ICZN 1999). This states that in order to maintain the prevailing usage the following conditions must be met: 1) the senior synonym (in this case Oxydromus Grube, 1855) has not been used as a valid name after 1899 (Article 23.9.1.1), and 2) the junior synonym (namely Ophiodromus Sars, 1862) has been used for a particular taxon, as its presumed valid name, in at least 25 works, published by at least 10 authors in the immediately preceding 50 years and encompassing a span of not less than 10 years (Article 23.9.1.2). The first condition is not applicable which negates the need for a reversal of precedence. Oxydromus has also been listed as a valid name after 1900 in many publications (e.g.
In accordance with Article 23.9.3 (ICZN 1999), we consider that the Oxydromus/Ophiodromus situation does not threaten the stability of nomenclature or the universality of a widespread use, thus no referral to the Commission for a ruling should be required. We propose to reinstate Oxydromus over Ophiodromus based on the Principle of Priority (Article 23, ICZN 1999).
Systematics Family HESIONIDAE Grube, 1850 Subfamily OPHIODROMINAE Pleijel, 1998 Tribe OPHIODROMINI Pleijel, 1998Oxydromus fasciatus Grube, 1855, by monotypy.
Oxydromus adorsosetosus (Hartmann-Schröder, 1985), comb. n. (basionym of Ophiodromus adorsosetosus Hartmann-Schröder, 1985)
Type locality: Port Lincoln, South Australia.
Oxydromus adspersus (Grube, 1874), comb. n. (basionym of Ophiodromus adspersus Grube, 1874)
Type locality: Dalmatia, Croatia.
Oxydromus agilis (Ehlers, 1864), comb. n. (basionym of Ophiodromus agilis Ehlers, 1864)
Type locality: Adriatic Sea.
Oxydromus angolaensis (Hartmann-Schröder, 1974), comb. n. (basionym of Podarke angolaensis Hartmann-Schröder, 1974)
Type locality: Lobito, Angola.
Oxydromus angustifrons (Grube, 1878), comb. n. (basionym of Irma angustifrons Grube, 1878)
Type locality: Philippines.
Oxydromus berrisfordi (Day, 1967), comb. n. (basionym of Ophiodromus berrisfordi Day, 1967)
Type locality: Walvis Bay, Namibia.
Oxydromus brevipodius (Uchida, 2004), comb. n. (basionym of Ophiodromus brevipodius Uchida, 2004)
Type locality: Wakayama, Japan.
Oxydromus bunbuku (Uchida, 2004), comb. n. (basionym of Ophiodromus bunbuku Uchida, 2004)
Type locality: Shikoku, Japan.
Oxydromus constrictus (Uchida, 2004), comb. n. (basionym of Ophiodromus constrictus Uchida, 2004)
Type locality: Wakayama, Japan.
Oxydromus didymocerus (Schmarda, 1861), comb. n. (basionym of Cirrosyllis didymocerus Schmarda, 1861)
Type locality: New South Wales, Australia.
Oxydromus fasciatus Grube, 1855 (possible junior synonym of Oxydromus flexuosus (delle Chiaje, 1825))
Type locality: Adriatic Sea (Trieste) and Western Mediterranean Sea (Villefranche-sur-Mer, France).
Oxydromus fauveli (Uchida, 2004), comb. n. (basionym of Ophiodromus fauveli Uchida, 2004)
Type locality: Wakayama, Japan.
Oxydromus flexuosus (delle Chiaje, 1825) (basionym of Nereis flexuosa delle Chiaje, 1825)
Type locality: Gulf of Naples.
Oxydromus furcatus (Hartmann-Schroder, 1962), comb. n. (basionym of Podarke furcatus Hartmann-Schroder, 1962)
Type locality: Peru.
Oxydromus guanicus (Hoagland, 1919), comb. n. (basionym of Podarke guanica Hoagland, 1919)
Type locality: Guanica, Puerto Rico.
Oxydromus latifrons (Grube, 1878), comb. n. (basionym of Irma latifrons Grube, 1878)
Type locality: Philippines.
Oxydromus limicolus (Willey, 1905), comb. n. (basionym of Irma limicola Willey, 1905)
Type locality: Sri Lanka.
Oxydromus longifundus (Uchida, 2004), comb. n. (basionym of Ophiodromus longifundus Uchida, 2004)
Type locality: Okinawa, Japan.
Oxydromus longicirratus (Knox and Cameron, 1971), comb. n. (basionym of Nereimyra longicirratus Knox and Cameron, 1971; not a senior homonym to Oxydromus longocirratus (Tenerelli, 1973) as
Type locality: Melbourne, Australia.
Oxydromus microantennatus (Hutchings and Murray, 1984), comb. n. (basyonymy of Podarke microantennata Hutchings and Murray, 1984)
Type locality: New South Wales, Australia.
Oxydromus minutus (Hartmann-Schröder, 1959), comb. n. (basyonymy of Podarke minuta Hartmann-Schröder, 1959)
Type locality: San Juan, El Salvador.
Oxydromus mutilatus (Treadwell, 1901), comb. n. (basyonymy of Castalia mutilata Treadwell, 1901)
Type locality: Puerto Rico.
Oxydromus notospinosus (Rosito, 1983), comb. n. (basionym of Ophiodromus notospinosus Rosito, 1983)
Type locality: Philippines.
Oxydromus obscurus (Verrill, 1873), comb. n. (basyonymy of Podarke obscura Verrill, 1873)
Type locality: Massachusetts, United States.
Oxydromus okudai (Uchida, 2004), comb. n. (basionym of Ophiodromus okudai Uchida, 2004)
Type locality: Nagasaki, Japan.
Oxydromus pallidus Claparède, 1864
Type locality: Golfe du Lion, France.
Oxydromus parapallidus (Uchida, 2004), comb. n. (basionym of Ophiodromus parapallidus Uchida, 2004)
Type locality: Wakayama, Japan.
Oxydromus pelagicus (Rioja, 1923), comb. n. (basionym of Ophiodromus pelagicus Rioja, 1923)
Type locality: Pontavedra, Spain.
Oxydromus pugettensis (Johnson, 1901), comb. n. (basyonymy of Podarke pugettensis Johnson, 1901) (Figure 1)
Type locality: Washington, United States.
Oxydromus spinapandens (Storch and Niggemann, 1967), comb. n. (basyonymy of Podarke pugettensis spinapandens Storch and Niggemann, 1967)
Type locality: Red Sea.
Oxydromus spinosus (Ehlers, 1908), comb. n. (basyonymy of Orthodromus spinosus Ehlers, 1908)
Type locality: Angola.
Oxydromus viridescens (Ehlers, 1864), comb. n. (basyonymy of Podarke viridescens Ehlers, 1864)
Type locality: Adriatic Sea.
Oxydromus vittatus (Sars, 1862), comb. n. (basionym of Ophiodromus vittatus Sars, 1862)
Type locality: Norway.
A representative living specimen of Oxydromus collected in California. Species: Oxydromus pugettensis (Johnson, 1901) (photo: Leslie Harris).
Oxydromus (from the Greek oxys= fast, quick; dromus= runner) (Figure 1) is currently represented by 32 species and is distinguished from other genera by the presence of six pairs of enlarged anterior cirri, prostomium bearing three antennae with the median one sited anteriorly, and biarticulated palps (see
Special thanks are given to Sergio I. Salazar-Vallejo, María Ana Tovar-Hernández and an anonymous reviewer whose important suggestions on nomenclatural issues improved this contribution. We wish to also thank Fredrik Pleijel and José Viéitez and colleagues whose papers contributed so much to this study. In particular, Viéitez et al’s (2004) comment on the availability of Oxydromus inspired TFVG to carry out their suggestion that the conflict between the two names be formally resolved. Workspace for TFVG was kindly facilitated by Nuria Méndez in ICMyL, UNAM, and was greatly appreciated.