Hi Barbara,
The original name is Cirratulus filiformis. In 1999 Mary Petersen transferred the taxon to Aphelochaeta. Thus use the combination A. filformis (Keferstein, 1862).
I have just changed the C. filiformis entry in WoRMS, World Register of Marine Species, to reflect this. It is currently the invalid name of the pair. There already was a valid name entry for A. filiformis. Hence the confusion. And 'homotypic synonym' status means only that there has been a simple nomenclature change for the same physical original specimen of Keferstein's (if it exists).
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=146834
Cheers,
Geoff
>>> On 30/11/2009 at 11:10 p.m., Barbara Mikac <barbara.mikac from cim.irb.hr> wrote:
> Dear colleagues,
>> I'm wandering if Aphelochaeta filiformis (Keferstein, 1862) and
> Cirratulus filiformis Keferstein, 1862 are synonyms or these are two
> valid species? I know that two genera, Aphelochaeta and Cirratulus are
> differing among each other by having (Aphelochaeta) and not having
> (Cirratulus) palps. However, in different sources I'm finding both
> species as valid (with the same species name, author and year) and I'm
> not sure any more if that's maybe the synonymy?
>> Thank you very much for your help!
>> Barbara
>> _______
> Barbara Mikac, M.Sc.
> Marine Research centre
> Rudjer Boskovic Institute
> G. Paliaga 5
> 52210 Rovinj
> Croatia
NIWA is the trading name of the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd.
