Polycirrus caliendrum Claparède, 1870, species inquirenda

Polycirrus caliendrum Claparède, 1870: 146–148, pl. XXIX, fig. 2.

Type locality. Gulf of Naples, Mediterranean .

Material examined. None.

Comments. No material was examined, and attempts to find material from the type locality failed. This is not surprising as Claparède was not in the habit of designating types (K. Fauchald, pers. comm.). As no type material exists and the original description is very brief, we suggest that P. caliendrum is a species inquirenda. Claparède (1870) figured the animal in dorsal view and a neuropodium, showing uncini. In general, diagnostic characters are not described; however, the uncini illustrated are clearly of Type 1 sensu Glasby & Glasby (1986). This is the same type as P. aurantiacus Grube, and as both species are reported to exhibit bluish or violet phosphoresence (Saint Joseph 1894), it is quite possible the two names apply to the same species, especially considering the proximity of their type localities on either side of Italy, viz. Gulf of Naples ( P. caliendrum) and Croatia ( P. aurantiacus).