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Type: Articles
Published: 2009-08-18
Page range: 21–25
Abstract views: 69
PDF downloaded: 23

On the live holotype of the Galápagos pink land Iguana, Conolophus marthae Gentile & Snell, 2009 (Squamata: Iguanidae): is it an acceptable exception?

Laboratório de Sistemática e Ecologia Animal, Centro Universitário Vila Velha, Unidade Acadêmica II, Ciências Biológicas. Rua Comissário José Dantas de Mello 21, Boa Vista, Vila Velha, ES. 29102-770. Brazil
Reptilia International Code of Zoological Nomenclature Nomenclature taxonomy

Abstract

The Galápagos pink land iguana, Conolophus marthae Gentile & Snell, 2009 (Squamata: Iguanidae) is the latest example of a species being described without the proper deposition of a preserved onomatophore (name-bearing type specimen) in a taxonomic collection. Differently from other recent similar descriptions, the holotype of Conolophus marthae was marked with a Passive Integrated Transponder, allegedly allowing it to be tracked and found after its death, when it would be deposited at the Governmental Galápagos collection. Although apparently fulfilling the criteria of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, I here argue that this practice should not be followed and that the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature should urgently act to standardize criteria that should be met by those describing species found at the brink of extinction.

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