In this paper we apply canonical variates analysis (CVA, otherwise known as multiple discriminant analysis) to the problem of species identifications among numerous populations of closely related worms from around the world. The characters used in the CVA were paragnath counts for each area of the proboscis. Canonical variates analysis requires a priori groupings of specimens, however these groupings can be at the level of local populations. Subsequent recognition of a smaller number of clusters in the final analysis is an exploratory technique described by Wiley (1981: 361365). This use of CVA as a clustering technique as an aid to species determinations is an extension of the approach of Wilson (1993), who used CVA to cluster