Pallas (1811: 320) described this form on the basis of specimens collected "in mari boreo et Camtschatico". The taxonomic meaning of Pallas's niveus is somewhat uncertain, although it is most probable that Pallas applied the name to the East Asian form of Larus canus (Stejneger 1885: 73–75; Saunders 1896: 279; but see Bruch 1855: 285 and Saunders 1878: 175). In any case, Larus niveus Pallas, 1811, is a junior primary homonym of Larus niveus Boddaert (1783: 58) = Pagophila eburnea (Phipps, 1774: 187) and of Larus niveus Ödmann (1783: 100) = Pagophila eburnea (Phipps) and thus cannot be used for the East Asian form of Larus canus (Art. 57.2 of the Code).