Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2025-06-23
Page range: 1-9
Abstract views: 147
PDF downloaded: 4

On the unavailability of five reptilian names

Departamento de Zoologia; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora. 36036-900; Juiz de Fora; Minas Gerais; Brazil
Amphisbaenia Squamata Amphisbaenidae Cadeidae Scincidae Teiidae taxonomy nomenclature availability electronic publications preliminary version version of record ZooBank

Abstract

Failure to follow the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature can lead to significant confusion in taxonomic literature. This study examines five reptilian names (for two species, two genera and one family) that should be considered unavailable due to non-compliance with specific Code’s criteria. Proper adherence to the Code is essential for maintaining consistency and clarity in taxonomy. However, interpreting the Code is often challenging, and some of its rules require improvement. Despite these difficulties, taxonomists must remain knowledgeable about the Code regulations to ensure the nomenclatural availability of their work and stability of zoological nomenclature.

References

  1. Anonymous [International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature] (1999) International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. 4th ed. London (International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature): i–xxix + 1–306.
  2. Anonymous [International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature] (2003) Declaration 44. Amendment of Article 74.7.3. Bulletin of zoological Nomenclature, 60 (4): 263.
  3. Anonymous [International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature] (2012) Amendment of Articles 8, 9, 10, 21 and 78 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature to expand and refine methods of publication. Zootaxa, 3450 (1): 1–7. <https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3450.1.1>.
  4. Anonymous [International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature] (2014) Zoological nomenclature and electronic publication—a reply to Dubois et al. (2013). Zootaxa, 3779 (1): 3–5. <https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3779.1.2>.
  5. Anonymous [International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature] (2017) Declaration 45. Addition of Recommendations to Article 73 and of the term ‘specimen, preserved’ to the Glossary. Bulletin of zoological Nomenclature, 73 (2–4): 96–97. <https://doi.org/10.21805/bzn.v73i2.a2>.
  6. Anonymous [International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature] (2025) Results of the 2025 ICZN Commissioner Election. International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, News & Updates. < https://www.iczn.org/> (accessed on 6 April 2025).
  7. Arias, F. J., Recoder, R., Álvarez, B. B., Ethcepare, E., Quipildor, M., Lobo, F. & Rodrigues, M.T. (2018) Diversity of teiid lizards from Gran Chaco and Western Cerrado (Squamata: Teiidae). Zoologica scripta, 47 (2): 144–158. <https://doi.org/10.1111/zsc.12277>.
  8. Caetano, J. M. V., Delcourt, R. & Ponciano, L. C. M. de O. (2023) A taxon with no name: ‘Ubirajara jubatus’ (Saurischia: Compsognathidae) is an unavailable name and has no nomenclatural relevance. Zootaxa, 5254 (3): 443–446. <https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5254.3.10>.
  9. Ceríaco, L. M. P., Aescht, E., Ahyong, S. T., Ballerio, A., Bouchard, P., Bourgoin, T., Dmitriev, D., Evenhuis, N., Grygier, M. J., Harvey, M. S., Kottelat, M., Kluge, N., Krell, F.-T., Kojima, J.-I., Kullander, S. O., Lucinda, P., Lyal, C. H. C., Pyle, R. L., Rheindt, F. E., Scioscia, C. L., Welter-Schultes, F., Whitmore, D., Yanega, D., Zhang, Z.-Q., Zhou, H.-Z. & Pape, T. (2023) Renaming taxa on ethical grounds threatens nomenclatural stability and scientific communication. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 197 (2): 283–286. <https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac107>.
  10. Cope, E. D. (1892) On degenerate types of scapular and pelvic arches in the Lacertilia. Journal of Morphology, 7 (1): 223–242. <https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.134788>.
  11. Costa, H. C. (2024) Reidentification of a 19th century specimen reveals the first record of Amphisbaena hogei Vanzolini, 1950 (Squamata, Amphisbaenidae) in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Evolutionary Systematics, 8: 273–278. <https://doi.org/10.3897/evolsyst.8.129984>.
  12. Costa, J. C. L., Graboski, R., Grazziotin, F. G., Zaher, H., Rodrigues, M. T. & Prudente, A. L. da C. (2022a) Reassessing the systematics of Leptodeira (Serpentes, Dipsadidae) with emphasis in the South American species. Zoologica scripta, 51 (4): 415–433. <https://doi.org/10.1111/zsc.12534>.
  13. Costa, J. C. L., Graboski, R., Grazziotin, F. G., Zaher, H., Rodrigues, M. T. & Prudente, A. L. da C. (2022b) Corrigendum to the paper: Reassessing the systematics of Leptodeira (Serpentes, Dipsadidae) with emphasis in the South American species. Zoologica scripta, 51 (5): 614–615. <https://doi.org/10.1111/zsc.12551>.
  14. Denzer, W. & Kaiser, H. (2023) Naming and gaming: the illicit taxonomic practice of ‘nomenclatural harvesting’ and how to avoid it. Journal of Zoology, 320: 161–168. < https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13061>.
  15. Doan, T. M., Rowe, J. W. & Fitzgerald, L. A. (2023) Journal of Herpetology is compliant with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Journal of Herpetology, 57 (4): 447. <https://doi.org/10.1670/23-230>.
  16. Dubois, A. (2005) Proposed Rules for the incorporation of nomina of higher-ranked zoological taxa in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. 1. Some general questions, concepts and terms of biological nomenclature. Zoosystema, 27 (2): 365–426. <https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1337.1.1>.
  17. Dubois, A. (2007) Naming taxa from cladograms: a cautionary tale. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 42 (2): 317–330. <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2006.06.007>.
  18. Dubois, A. (2011) The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature must be drastically improved before it is too late. Bionomina, 2 (1): 1–104. <https://doi.org/10.11646/bionomina.2.1.1>.
  19. Dubois, A. (2015) Describing new species. Taprobanica, 2 (1): 6–24. <https://doi.org/10.47605/tapro.v2i1.24>.
  20. Dubois, A., Aneesh, P. T., Bauer, A. M., Ceríaco, L. M. P., Daniel, G. M., de Prins, J., Frétey, T., Löbl, I., Lorvelec, O., Marinov, M., Ohler, A., Schmitt, M., Whittington, A., Young, M. T. & Aescht, E. (2022) The Linz Zoocode project. Fifth report of activities (2022). Nomenclatural availability. 4. Electronic publication. Bionomina, 28 (1): 71–119. <https://doi.org/10.11646/bionomina.28.1.4>.
  21. Dubois, A., Bauer, A. M., Ceríaco, L. M. P., Dusoulier, F., Frétey, T., Löbl, I., Lorvelec, O., Ohler, A., Stopiglia, R. & Aescht, E. (2019) The Linz Zoocode project: a set of new proposals regarding the terminology, the Principles and Rules of zoological nomenclature. First report of activities (2014‒2019). Bionomina, 17 (1): 1–111. <https://doi.org/10.11646/bionomina.17.1.1>.
  22. Dubois, A., Bour, R. & Ohler, A. (2015) What is an online ‘preliminary version’ of a publication in the meaning of Article 9.9 of the Code? One more step on the trail of the Asian elephant. Bulletin of zoological Nomenclature, 72 (1): 6–18. <https://doi.org/10.21805/bzn.v72i1.a13>.
  23. Dubois, A., Crochet, P.-A., Dickinson, E. C., Nemésio, A., Aescht, E., Bauer, A. M., Blagoderov, V., Bour, R., De Carvalho, M. R., Desutter-Grandcolas, L., Frétey, T., Jäger, P., Koyamba, V., Lavilla, E. O., Löbl, I., Louchart, A., Malécot, V., Schatz, H. & Ohler, A. (2013) Nomenclatural and taxonomic problems related to the electronic publication of new nomina and nomenclatural acts in zoology, with brief comments on optical discs and on the situation in botany. Zootaxa, 3735 (1): 1–94. <https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3735.1.1>.
  24. Dubois, A. & Frétey, T. (2020) Herpetological higher taxa nomina 1. Introduction and methodology. Bionomina, 19: 1–56. <https://doi.org/10.11646/bionomina.19.1.1
  25. Dubois, A. & Frétey, T. (2023) Problems with the availability of zoological nomenclatural acts published online: the case of the Journal of Herpetology. Bionomina, 34 (1): 9–34. <https://doi.org/10.11646/bionomina.34.1.2>.
  26. Dubois, A., Frétey, T. & Ineich, I. (2021) It is high time that taxonomists follow the Code. 3. The Bungarus romulusi case (Serpentes, Elapidae). Bionomina, 21 (1): 120–122. <https://doi.org/10.11646/bionomina.21.1.8>.
  27. Dubois, A., Frétey, T. & Ohler, A. (2018) The Relictus case: it is high time that taxonomists follow the Code’s requirements for nomenclatural availability and validity of new zoological nomina. Bionomina, 13 (1): 51–64. <https://doi.org/10.11646/bionomina.13.1.4>.
  28. Dubois, A., Nemésio, A. & Bour, R. (2014) Primary, secondary and tertiary syntypes and virtual lectotype designation in zoological nomenclature, with comments on the recent designation of a lectotype for Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758. Bionomina, 7 (1): 45–64. <https://doi.org/10.11646/bionomina.7.1.2>.
  29. Erens, J., Miralles, A., Glaw, F., Chatrou, L. W. & Vences, M. (2017) Extended molecular phylogenetics and revised systematics of Malagasy scincine lizards. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 107: 466–472. <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2016.12.008>.
  30. Frétey, T. & Dubois, A. (2021) It is high time that taxonomists follow the Code. 2. The Virgotyphlops case (Serpentes, Typhlopidae). Bionomina, 21 (1): 117–119. <https://doi.org/10.11646/bionomina.21.1.7>.
  31. Frost, D. R. (2024) Scientific nomenclature and its discontents: Comments by Frost on rules and philosophy of taxonomy, ranks, and their applications. Amphibian Species of the World 6.2, an online reference. <https://amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org/Scientific-Nomenclature-and-its-Discontents-Comments-by-Frost-on-Rules-and-Philosophy-of-Taxonomy-Ranks-and-Their-Applications> (accessed on 3 March 2025).
  32. Kaiser, H., Thomson, S. A. & Shea, G. M. (2020) Nawaran Esquerré, Donnellan, Brennan, Lemmon, Lemmon, Zaher, Grazziotin & Keogh, 2020 is an invalid junior synonym of Nyctophilopython Wells & Wellington, 1985 (Squamata, Pythonidae): simple priority without Zoobank pre-registration. Bionomina, 20 (1): 47–54. <https://doi.org/10.11646/bionomina.20.1.4>.
  33. Krell, F.-T. (2015) A mixed bag: when are early online publications available for nomenclatural purposes? Bulletin of zoological Nomenclature, 72 (1): 19–32. <https://doi.org/10.21805/bzn.v72i1.a14>.
  34. Marcus, E. (2009) Taming supplemental material. Cell, 139 (1): 11. <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2009.09.021>.
  35. Rocha, C. F. D., Barros-Filho, J. D. & Sluys, M. V. (2023) A new Amphisbaena species from a Restinga habitat of southeastern Brazil (Reptilia, Squamata, Amphisbaenidae). International Journal of Zoology and animal Biology, 6 (4): 1–8. <https://doi.org/10.23880/izab-16000501>.
  36. Ruedi, M., Puechmaille, S. J., Ibáñez, C. & Juste, J. (2019) Unavailable names in the Myotis nattereri species complex. Journal of Biogeography, 46 (9): 2145–2146. <https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.13665>.
  37. Shea, G. (2021) The identity of twelve scincid generic names proposed by Cope in 1892 (Squamata: Scincidae). Zootaxa, 5057 (4): 577–589. <https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5057.4.8>.
  38. Taylor, M. P. (2009) Electronic publication of nomenclatural acts is inevitable, and will be accepted by the taxonomic community with or without the endorsement of the Code. Bulletin of zoological Nomenclature, 66 (3): 205–214. <https://doi.org/10.21805/bzn.v66i3.a1>.
  39. Vidal, N., Azvolinsky, A., Cruaud, C. & Hedges, S. B. (2008) Origin of tropical American burrowing reptiles by transatlantic rafting. Biology Letters, 4 (1): 115–118. <https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0531>.
  40. Wüster, W. Thomson, S. A., O’Shea, M. & Kaiser, H. (2021) Confronting taxonomic vandalism in biology: conscientious community self-organization can preserve nomenclatural stability. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 133 (3): 645–670. <https://doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/blab009>.
  41. Zhang, Z.-Q. (2014) Electronic publication in zoological nomenclature and taxonomy: problems, responses and solutions. Zootaxa, 3779 (1): 1–2. <https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3779.1.1>.