Scientific Name Updates

[Westley Price]

This thread is intended for members to share official changes in species or genus names of any reptile (exotic or indigenous). Also if subspecies are given full species status or if a new spesies is described it can be mentioned here

The aim is just to keep everyone up to date and informed.

Please also place links where possible to online literature or even a book reference.

Also please stick to scientific name changes and not common names

Thanx

Listing added & updated:

Snakes:
Bitis gabonica rhinoceros -> Bitis rhinoceros
Coluber (Asian) -> Platyceps
Elaphe longissimus -> Zamenis longissimus
Macrovipera mauritanica -> Daboia mauritanica
Naja nigricollis woodi -> Naja nigricincta woodi

Lizards & crocodilians:
Acontias litoralis -> Microacontias litoralis
Acontias lineatus -> Microacontias lineatus
Mabuya -> Trachylepis
Mabuya quinquetaeniata margaritifer -> Trachylepis margiritifer
Panaspis sp. (N.Province, N.Mpumalanga, Zimbabwe and adjacent regions) -> Panaspis maculicollis

Chelonians:
Geochelone -> Stigmochelys pardalis
Psammobates oculiferus -> Psammobates oculifer

Geckos:
Pachydactylus bibronii -> Chondrodactylus bibronii
Pachydactylus fitzsimonsi -> Chondrodactylus fitzsimonsi
Pachydactylus kochii -> Colopus kochii
Pachydactylus mariquensis latirostris -> Pachydactylus latirostris
Pachydactylus mariquensis mariquensis -> Pachydactylus mariquensis
Pachydactylus rugosus barnardi -> Pachydactylus barnardi
Pachydactylus rugosus formosus -> Pachydactylus formosus
Pachydactylus rugosus rugosus -> Pachydactylus rugosus
Pachydactylus tetensis -> Elasmodactylus tetensis
Pachydactylus turneri -> Chondrodactylus turneri
Palmatogecko rangei -> Pachydactylus rangei
Palmatogecko vanzyli -> Pachydactylus vanzyli

Amphibians:
Rana -> Afrana

[armata]

Very good idea
Good plan would be to put old name (genus or species) in parenthesis

e.g. Bitis(gabonica rhinoceros)rhinoceros
Naja(nigricollis woodi)nigrincta woodi

(Macrovipera)Daboia mauritanica
(Elaphe) Zamenis longissimus


Also widespread Amphibian changes - African Rana now = Afrana (except for some N.African I think)

[Mongoose]

Alright alright - Here's my contribution

RECENT NAME CHANGES FOR SOUTH AFRICAN REPTILES
I've often heard people express frustration when the scientific names of plants or animals are changed by taxonomists. I can sympathise in general, because I also don't want to unnecessarily strain my limited brain cells with superfluous info, but usually such name changes are ultimately for the better. As we gather more information about species and their relationships with each other, be it in terms of their morphology or genetic makeup, it sometimes becomes necessary to make these name changes. In essence we are fine-tuning our understanding of these species. In the past five years or so, several South African reptiles underwent changes at the genus level. These names are already in use in the scientific literature, and also in the SARCA Virtual Museum species list, but they are not yet reflected in any of the popular field guides currently in bookstores. However, the good news is that a new book with all the updated names and general information is imminent. A Guide to the Reptiles of Southern Africa by Graham Alexander and Johan Marais should be on the shelves by November 2007. In the meantime, here is a list of the most important name changes that may have caused you some confusion:
Even the Leopard Tortoise did a name change - it is no longer in the genus Geochelone - instead it is Stigmochelys pardalis.
The so-called typical skinks of the genus Mabuya changed to Trachylepis. This change affected 23 southern African species of skinks. The genus Mabuya used to be cosmopolitan, occurring on all continents, except for Antarctica of course.
Two species of legless skinks of the genus Acontias are now in a separate genus called Microacontias. They are M. litoralis, and the three subspecies of M. lineatus.
Geckos of the genus Pachydactylus were reviewed by Aaron Bauer (University of Villa Nova) and his colleagues, and resulted in the following changes:
The two web-footed geckos Palmatogecko rangei and P. vanzyli were both transferred to Pachydactylus.
Pachydactylus kochii is now in the same genus as the Kalahari Ground Gecko, i.e. it is now Colopus kochii.
Three species of Pachydactylus were moved to Chondrodactylus, a genus that previously included only the Giant Ground Gecko. These species are Chondrodactylus bibronii, C. fitzsimonsi and C. turneri.

http://sarca.adu.org.za/newsletter07.php

[Mongoose]

Pachydactylus tetensis has changed to Elasmodactylus tetensis

[Mongoose]

*Goose wonders whose going to do all the gecko updates.. Most of the Pachydactylus sub-species have been put into a species of there own

[damiensharjah]

(Homo sapiens) Certain populations in Belgium have been revised and elevated to a new species: Homo intracopulatus.

I have a managerial one to swop for a roll of toilet paper or similar item :

[damiensharjah]

All of the Asian members of the genus Coluber appear to be falling under Platyceps now. I have no idea about C. zebrina though

[froot]

LOL How about a million Zim dollars Damien?

Ok I will list the changes in Westley's post.
Feel free to point out any inaccuracies.

It might be appropriate to add the year of the name changes so if you can furnish us with that too it would be great, if not, don't stress.
It may also be helpful to some to add some of the historic name changes too.

[Westley Price]

please correct me if i'm wrong, but i think all the Pachydactylus rugosus ssp have been given full species status so it would be P. rugosus, P. barnardi and P. formosus

[Mongoose]

You right Wes they are all a species on there own.

Pachydactylus mariquensis is a species on it's own, so is Pachydactylus latirostris ( It used to be a sub-species of mariqunesis)

There are loads more.. The best bet would be to get A guide to the Reptiles of Southern Africa - Marais and Alexander. Although it does not state some species in it..

[Mongoose]

Any takers to doing the Chameleons?

[Mongoose]

Psammobates oculiferus is now Psammobates oculifer

[Bushviper]

Mongoose your contributions better be on the same standard as the blue writing in the first post or else we will tell everyone that secret you dont want them to know.

[Mongoose]

In Branch's field guide there is a un-identified species of Panaspis. This has since then been described and is Panaspis maculicollis

[froot]

What is the range of this species?